After successfully implementing the National Friday wear to encourage the patronage of local fabrics, the Trade Ministry has announced yet another innovative programme to increase the use of smocks.
The Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr. Alan Kyerematen in the erstwhile John Kufuor administration launched the National Friday wear as part of measures to increase the use Made-in-Ghana goods.
Speaking to Citi Business News, a Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry, Mr. Carlos Ahenkorah stated that government will soon announce another project— the National Fugu Day to help create a market for smocks made in the three regions up north.
“We as a ministry want to implement this programme to cushion our brothers and sisters up north. We want to bring up a certain activity which will shore up their income a little bit and that is introducing a Fugu Day as we introduced the Friday Wear when were in government from the year 2001,” he said.
“This Fugu Day is going to be one of the days in the week that is going to ensure that at least everybody in Ghana would identify with our brothers and sisters up north and wear a Fugu,” he explained.
Outlining the benefits of such an initiative, Mr. Ahenkorah stated that the move will increase the demand for Fugu, creating a huge market for players in the industry.
He observed that this will generate income for them and positively affect their financial wellbeing.
Citing more benefits, Mr. Ahenkorah was optimistic the day will also provide some relief for the national grid since Fugu does not need ironing.
“It is not only going to inure to the benefit of our brothers and sisters , but Ghana as a whole. We all know that the Fugu is not ironed. So for example if we select Monday as our Fugu Day. On Mondays we know that a lot of people will not iron and so there will be some surplus energy reserved. So ideally this is the concept. The ministry will provide details very soon,” he assured.
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By: Lawrence Segbefia/citibusinessnews.com/Ghana