The Akufo-Addo-led government has reiterated its commitment to revive ailing industries with plans to deploy the existing Local Content Law to encourage “localized” procurement.
Appearing before the Appointments Committee of Parliament Monday, Trade and Industry Minister-designate, Alan Kyeremanten, assured that government will use public procurement as a vehicle to drive its industrialization agenda.
He said: “Government will deepen its various interventions that will promote the consumption of locally-made goods and services in the country. Leveraging the local content regulations, we will ensure that as long as tax payers’ funds are used for the sourcing goods and services, preference will be given to locally-made goods, subject to specifications.”
According to the minister-designate, though it would be difficult to “force” people to buy local, government will show leadership with a cocktail of activities that will give exposure to locally-made products, citing the introduction of the ‘Friday Wear’ as an example.