KMA to set up footwear industry

Kumasi, July 15, GNA- The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) has acquired a piece of land at Adoato for the establishment of footwear industrial estate.

Mr Maxwell Kofi Jumah, the Kumasi Metropolitan Chief Executive, said development of the land and provision of machinery would be financed by the KMA in collaboration with the Footwear Manufacturers Association (FMA).

Mr Jumah was inaugurating the Bantama branch (Zone five) of the FMA in Kumasi.

The 10-member executive of the branch, which has Mr Rockson Manu as chairman, were sworn into office to begin a three-year term. Mr Jumah explained that the rationale behind initiating such a project is to bring footwear manufacturers together to work as a body and under one roof to increase productivity.

It will also pave way for them as a group to turn out more quality products and help them penetrate the global market.

Mr Ken Oppong Kyekyeku, Ashanti Regional Officer of the Ministry of Trade, Industries and President Special Initiative (PSI), said he was not happy that some Ghanaian footwear manufacturers labelled locally manufactured products as foreign products.

He advised them to be proud of their products and be bold enough to label them, "Made in Ghana", since that is the only means by which they could advertise and promote indigenous products.

Mr Kwame Obuor, Ashanti Regional chairman of the FMA, said realising the role education plays in the production of quality goods, the FMA, with support of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) was assisting some of its members to acquire knowledge on standards, specifications and quality, regarding production lines. 15 July 04