Increase proportion of Ghanaian goods on sale at malls - Akufo-Addo
The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has indicated that it is his hope that the newly launched Kumasi City Mall will not be a place only for the sale of imported goods, but also for the sale of Ghanaian goods.
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According to President Akufo-Addo, “it would be truly commendable if, by the end of the first year of its operation, at least 20% of the goods that are sold here should be of Ghanaian origin, and the percentages increase as Ghanaian industrial production rapidly expands.”
Delivering a speech at the official launch of the Kumasi City Mall, on Wednesday, May 10, 2017, the President bemoaned the fact that Ghana continues to be a retailer of cheap imported goods, whilst the capacity of our local producers remains weak and their products suffer low patronage.
“I know very well that, in some of our malls and supermarkets across the country, carrots sold, for example, are imported from Holland. Some of the dressed chickens on sale have also come from Brazil. Indeed, the items originating from Ghana and from our local entrepreneurs constitute barely a paltry 5% of goods on sale,” the President lamented.
He noted, however, that all over the world, new enterprises, such as the Kumasi City Mall, have spawned the creation of jobs and investments, and triggered increased local spending.
“Supermarkets and many shopping malls in several parts of the world, particularly in the advanced economies, have become magnets for production. It is my hope that the Kumasi City Mall will not only be a place for the sale of imported goods, but also Ghanaian goods,” he added.
To this end, President Akufo-Addo encouraged shop owners and supermarkets, like Shoprite, to increase the proportion of Ghanaian goods sold at the shop, by getting more local farmers and entrepreneurs to produce for them.
“We want Kumasi to be a place of work again, not just a place where people come for funerals. We want to bring jobs back to this city, and restore Kumasi to its position, once again, of being The Garden City. The support government gives to the private sector is intended to translate into greater economic activities of our entrepreneurs, producers and farmers. Kumasi City Mall should bear witness of this increased activity,” he added.
Whilst acknowledging the challenges confronting the country’s economy, the President pledged that his government aims to liberate the energies of the youth by harnessing talent and building skills, inspiring innovation and risk taking, connecting to global value chains and, most importantly, nurturing a deep sense of patriotism.
He, thus, encouraged the youth to take advantage of the immense opportunities this mall presents.
“Last month, I launched the programme for Planting for Food and Jobs in Goaso, in the Brong Ahafo Region. Organise yourselves and get involved in this initiative. I am certain that my admonition to shop owners of this mall will not go unheard. They will surely buy from you, if your produce meets the standard, which I am confident it can,” he urged.
