Mahama’s commitment to ‘Made in Ghana’ campaign questioned

The 2012 flagbearer of the Progressive People’s Party (PPP) Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom is questioning President Mahama’s commitment to his much talked about ‘Made in Ghana’ campaign.

He says President Mahama has paid lip service to the Made in Ghana campaign.

According to him, an executive order must be given to all arms of government to import only goods that are not produced locally.

In his view government and the private sector have failed to support Ghanaian businesses that will push the Made in Ghana campaign.

If it wanted to support businesses, “this administration would have put in the edict that nobody, no organisation funded by the tax payer should go and purchase anything imported if that product can be produced in Ghana;

“If President John Mahama were to do that in one of his broadcasts, that will mean that parliament can’t go and import it can be produced in Ghana”, he added.

The president, in his view, must ensure that people who live on the public purse do not make decisions that are detrimental to Ghanaian businesses.

“He must make sure that whoever it is that we are giving money to from the tax payers money does the right thing”, he said.

He added that the parliamentarians will be made to return the furniture to China and Italy if they were working in his company.

Dr Nduom’s criticisms come after parliament has for the second time imported furniture from China and Italy for the newly completed Job 600 office building.

The first time parliament procured chairs from China was for the chamber last November.

This decision to purchase the furniture from China and Italy comes just two weeks after President Mahama on May Day called on Ghanaians to patronise made in Ghana goods to help grow the economy.

But the Majority leader in parliament, Alban Bagbin has defended the decision by the parliamentary service board to import furniture and other office wares for MPs despite bids submitted by local manufacturers.

Mr. Bagbin says the local manufacturers lack the capacity to meet the demand.

But the President of the Woodworkers association Reynolds Debrah tells Joy News parliament’s excuse of local manufacturers not meeting their demand is untenable.

He said the woodworkers have the capacity and can manufacture furniture in the country.


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