The Finance Director of Crocodile Matchets says counterfeiters are thriving to the detriment of the industry because the law is slow to catch up with them.
Dr. Charles Atuahene stated that counterfeiting is a serious issue in the manufacturing industry, especially in Ghana. “There are so many counterfeits coming into the country, be it textiles, machetes, pharmaceutical products, and so on.
“It is a challenge when it comes to counterfeits and it appears the law is not that supportive, so people are taking advantage of it,” he said on Joy News’ PM Express Business Edition.
According to him, the slow pace of the legal system does not favour investors who are always on the move to get returns on their investments.
“You don’t know how long a case is going to take, and as a business person, you don’t have the time to be going to court every day.
“It’s not possible to only allow your lawyer to go to court always because obviously, the lawyer does not have an in-depth understanding of the business that you do,” he said on Wednesday.
In February this year, the Director-General of the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA), Prof. Alex Dodoo, expressed confidence that the establishment of Trading Standards Inspectors (TSIs) will fortify consumer confidence by exposing counterfeit products and championing a culture of standardization in the marketplace.
In an era when counterfeit goods pose a significant threat to both consumers and legitimate businesses, the country’s deployment of TSIs – Africa’s first trading standards inspectors, according to Prof. Dodoo – aims to sanitize markets and boost consumer confidence.
“We expect the industry to work according to the best international practices. If all these things come together, the result is that Ghanaian companies will have a bigger share of the market, make more profit, and ultimately provide Ghanaian consumers with quality goods and services at affordable prices,” he said.
Prof. Dodoo further noted that the standards inspectors will play a pivotal role in upholding market integrity and ensuring products meet stringent standards, safeguarding consumers from potentially hazardous or substandard items.
Despite this assurance, counterfeiters are thriving because manufacturers say the punitive measures are not deterrent enough.
A frustrated Dr. Charles Atuahene said, “Even if you arrest somebody selling your exact product, you take the person to court and the court ends up fining the person about GH¢540 or GH¢840.
“So actually, it is not even worth it taking somebody to court for counterfeiting your product because the legal process can take long.
“As a businessman, must you be in production or court? However, if the court system was favourable, say you go there and within a year or two you get a judgment, then it will be a deterrent to those who want to enter into such a counterfeit business,” he said.
myjoyonline.com
