The
foremost textiles manufacturing company in Ghana, Tex Styles Ghana Ltd, popularly referred to as GTP kicked off celebrations of the brand's Golden Jubilee last week.
The
official launch of the 50th anniversary was held on 19thof January, 2016 at the company’s factory in Tema. The
day activities started with photo exhibition and factory tour; the exhibition depicted 50 years in the brand’s history and the tour gave an insight on how the textiles manufacturing company carried out the production of their
designs.
Ghana Textiles Printing Company Limited, hence the
acronym GTP but NOW Tex Styles Ghana Limited were established as part of Osageyfo Dr.
Kwame Nkrumah’s import substitution drive. It was incorporated precisely on 17th
January 1966.
GTP
has contributed and continues to contribute immensely to the economy and culture
of Ghana and other West African states in so many ways: close to 1,000
Ghanaians directly employed, offer training and skills development opportunities
to workers, students on internship and National Service personnel.
Donated
over 2,000 bed sheets/pillow cases to over 15 public hospitals between
2013-2015, training opportunities to 13 talented but under-privileged Ghanaian
ladies to train at Joyce Ababio’s College of Creative Arts in 2014 and another
batch of 15 tailors to polish up their trade in 2015.
GTP
is also one of the large tax payers; paid over Ghc33m in 2015, invested over
Ghc30million in plant & equipment between 2012-2015, exports to most West
African markets putting Ghana’s name on the international map with $8 million export
value for 2015, etc
There
is no success without challenges, Mr. Kofi
Boateng, Managing Director of GTP recounts the challenges faced by GTP and
other textiles manufacturing brand.
“In addition to the macro economic challenges
we face the frightening menace of counterfeiting and smuggling of our products
and brands, GTP is essentially in the business of selling DESIGNS & COLOURS, not just fabrics. So, when these well
thought through and crafted designs, colour combinations and sometimes brand
logos/labels are copied, counterfeited and smuggled into the country at
ridiculously low prices, it becomes a real challenge to deal with. This menace
is our biggest challenge.
This has greatly curtailed the contributions that
GTP could make to the economy in terms of increased employment, foreign
currency earnings and taxation.”
 |
| Kofi Boateng, Managing Director of GTP |
Mr
Boateng commend the efforts and support of Government of Ghana for some policy
interventions which have helped GTP and the other local manufacturers in the
industry; like Wear Made in Ghana
(Friday Wear) Campaign, Anti-Piracy Task Force, Waiver of Duties, etc
But there are lot
more that can be done; He hereby call on government to look more into enforcing
import controls, enforcement of local sourcing, add more days to the ‘Wear Made in Ghana
Campaign’- 'Every day wear', and Ministry of Trade to take some urgent
steps to save Volta Star from collapse.
Several
key dignitaries attended the celebration, including the Deputy Minister of
Trade and Industry Mr Kweku Ricketts Hagan, who spoke at the event to
congratulate GTP on their jubilee achievement as well as their contribution to
the national trade and employment. Reverend Dr. Joyce Aryee delivered the 50th
Anniversary Prayer and both the Honorary Isaac Ashai Odamtten, Mayor of Tema
and Mr. Solomon
Kotei,
ICU General Secretary, spoke at the event to recognize GTP for all they have
accomplished over the past 50 years.
See some photos below..
TEXTILE MANUFACTURER GTP MARKS 50 YEARS OF ‘CLOTHING THE NATION’
Reviewed by Bash
on
05:26:00
Rating:
Reviewed by Bash
on
05:26:00
Rating:
No comments: