The Ghana Co-operative of Distillers and Retailers Association are calling for the intervention of the government to expand and properly manage their productions so that they can appeal to the international market.
The former National President of the Association, Nana Akuoko Kwarteng speaking with Bohyeba Afriyie on Plan B Fm said that, the alcohol they produce has many benefits. If they are produced, distilled and packaged adequately, they can be branded to suit the international market and compete with various alcohol products like vodka.
Alcohol, according to him has been utilized for decades, from 1952 till date for libations, medicinal purposes, human consumption, as well as the production of sanitizers, and they need a factory to expand their productions. When they are placed on the 1D1F initiative by the president, the factory can employ many people and reduce the unemployment rate in the country.
The Ashanti Region alone pays over 70,000cedis as income tax. The association, with over 2million members across the nation, have been contributing greatly to the economy of the country through the payment of taxes, SSNIT, etc and they deserve the government’s intervention to aid in their expansion.
Raw materials they will need include Sugar cane and palm plantations so that they can produce more. There have been reports of inferior alcohol production in the country and he attributes them to the emergence of splinter groups and has made it impossible for them to supervise the productions of members of these groups.
Anyone can now go to the local assemblies and be given the permit to operate and this amount to negative implications in their business and the intervention of the government can salvage the situation and save their business. The association has set up a committee to write proposals in this course and they are hoping that these proposals will be considered.
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