Packaging of Ghanaian products need improvement – Spio
Dr Ekow Spio-Garbrah, the Minister of Trade and Industry, has said the packaging of made in Ghana products can be improved to meet global standards and meet consumer expectations.
He said there is the need for improvement from all sectors in the process of packing made in Ghana products.
“Packaging products very well can go to the extent of avoiding contamination, moisture and improving the competition in Ghana as well as across the globe,” Dr Spio-Garbrah said in Accra on Wednesday at the signing of a memorandum between the Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
Dubbed “Improving Food Packing for Small and Medium Agro-Enterprises in Sub-Saharan Africa”, the $450,000 initiative of the FAO is to create partnerships, support and improve efficiency in food chain.
Dr Spio-Garbrah said the packaging of products in Ghana should not only be attractive but should be made resilient to stand all weather conditions.
“Our packing also should be done in a hygienic environment before it can be attractive to consumers,” he said.
Dr Abebe Haile Gabriel, FAO Deputy Regional Representative for Africa and Representative to Ghana, said bad packaging was a major factor to food loss and citizen’s patronage.
He said the project would provide a great opportunity for all parties to work closely to promote sustainability of food chains in Africa.
He said countries including Ghana, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Kenya, Mali, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Tanzania and Zambia were partners with the FAO and International Trade Centre on the project.
Dr Gabriel called for collaboration between ministries to make the goal of the project worthwhile.
Paa Kow Bartels, Chair of the Packaging Working Group at the Ministry of Trade and Industry, said the project was a laudable initiative that would ensure and promote quality of standards in the packing industry.
“This is an opportunity for partnership between food industries in Ghana and Africa,” he said.
Source: GNA