LET US SUPPORT MADE IN GHANA GOODS

It has been fifty-four (54) years now when Ghana’s first President Osegyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, in his independence speech noted that Ghanaians must realize they were no more under a colonial authority, but an independent State emphasising “the Black African is ready to fight his own battle and show that after all, the black man is capable of managing his own affairs”.

But what do we see as Ghanaians, in our taste and preference for the local products. It is evident that, the Ghanaian’s mentality is being associated with the failure of Ghanaian products to compete with foreign made products.

Governments over the years have tried to ensure that Ghanaians love their own local product rather than patronizing foreign products. For this reason, the made in Ghana products are being promoted to gain grounds on our Ghanaian markets.

During Friday’s for instance, Ghanaians are being asked to wear Made in Ghana fabric to help the private businesses grow, but this is not seen of many Ghanaians because they prefer the foreign print than the local ones. Their reason is that they are normally smart when they are in “suit and tie”.

The preference of Ghanaians adapting to the foreign product can be attributed to the colonial mentality where anything of the “white” are held to be of more quality than the ones produced locally.

The negative “African mentality” has to be fought and conquered because it is collapsing many Ghanaian industries. Condemning such act by a “Blackman” or an African can not make things better, but Ghanaians need a lot of public education and orientation about made in Ghana products.

The Ghanaian industries also need to be technologically advanced, for it is not just psychological for a Ghanaian to have a foreign preference. This is because goods produced locally are, sometimes, of inferior quality as compared to foreign products.

In economics, a consumer is said to be rational to choose goods and better products to satisfy his consumption. So the local consumer can not be blame for not patronizing made in Ghana products.

The Ghanaian producer should make efforts to improve the quality of locally manufactured goods so that the Blackman prove to the world that he can manage his own affairs.

Ekow Aidoo
paanyan7@gmail.com