Tema: Some Ghanaians have called on stakeholders in the trade sector to make Made-in-Ghana products more affordable to encourage patronage and support local industries.
According to Ghana News Agency, they observed that many locally produced goods were often priced beyond the reach of average households, making it difficult for consumers to choose them over cheaper or more attractive foreign alternatives. Madam Hilda Akoto, a resident of Tema, noted that the high cost of local goods was driven by factors such as high production costs, taxes, transportation expenses, and inflation. She appealed to the government to support local manufacturers with incentives to reduce production costs and ultimately lower market prices.
Mr Joseph Akuertey, a trader at the Tema Central Market, also expressed concern about the high cost of Made-in-Ghana products. He called on the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) to encourage traders to reduce prices in line with the relative stability of the local currency. Mr Akuertey said improving affordability would boost patronage of locally produced goods, stimulate economic growth, create jobs, and promote industrial development.
Mr Godwin Gokah, a businessman in Tema, urged the government to prioritise reducing taxes on raw materials and imported machinery to help lower manufacturing overheads. He also emphasised the need to improve infrastructure, including roads and electricity supply, to reduce high logistics costs that often increase final product prices.