Tema, July 10, GNA-The Ghana Federation of Labour (GFL) has called on the government to revive the local industries to achieve sustainable wealth towards the improvement of the local economy.
“Local industries are critical toward the achievement of sustainable economic recovery.
“All developed and emerging economies have used industrialization as the key driver of modernization; Ghana cannot develop based on the importation of basic goods which can be produced locally,” Mr Abraham Koomson, Secretary-General of Ghana Federation of Labour has stated.
Mr Koomson was analysing the labour front at the 14th edition of the Stakeholders Engagement and Worker’s Appreciation Day Seminar of the Tema Regional Office of the Ghana News Agency.
The GNA Tema Stakeholder Engagement is a platform rolled out for state and non-state actors to address national issues and serves as a motivational mechanism to recognize the editorial contribution of reporters toward national development in general and the growth and promotion of the Tema GNA as the industrial news hub.
He noted that empowering the local industry would strengthen local trade and create employment opportunities while exports of local goods would increase in relation to quality and quantity.
Mr Koomson maintained that no country had developed from a ‘buying and selling’ policy because “you destroy your local economy” adding that “no country has ever become richer by exporting raw materials without adding value to it and having a local industry virtually at the intensive care units.”
He however argued that Ghana cannot create jobs without having a strong manufacturing base and industrialised economy, “if the government really thinks that production will transform the country, then it must revive and exploit the country’s resources to boost the local economy.
“We can survive on manufacturing industries if there is conscious effort to boost the local industry to grow,” he said.
Mr Francis Ameyibor, GNA Tema Regional Manager said the agency had embarked on a process of revamping its newsgathering operations, which include training of reporters and editors in the production of digital news content and the acquisition of modern digital equipment to aid speedy transmission of stories from the field.
Mr Ameyibor said GNA was poised to be the source of news on Ghana’s investment and industrialisation drive, economic and tourism potential through story exchanges with its international partners, and Tema serving as a major industrial city, “GNA Tema” would provide critical news as we move forward.
