The President of Bamboo and Rattan Association in Kumasi, Mr. Kankam Boadu has pleaded to government to quit dealing with non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) on their behalf in terms of providing assistance and directly empower them to help raise the standard of made in Ghana goods production.

He disclosed that the majority of funds handed to NGOs to inspire the Bamboo and Rattan business get misspent without turning up to them, and for that reason, they have come to a decision not to collaborate with them in matters pertaining to government supports.

 

 

“We have made lots of pleas to the government but nothing is coming. Every time we make a request, the Non-Governmental Organizations take advantage and secure our funds and we get nothing,” Mr. Boadu said.

“They write down our names and when the assistance from the European and Chinese government approaches through them, they make flimsy excuses and exhaust our funds. We have decided not to collaborate with them anymore in anything pertaining to appeal for funds from government,” he added.

Coronavirus has robbed vocations in Ghana and rendered many jobless and off benefits. Traders wish the deadly pandemic had vanished for normal life to resume normal life yet they wake up every day seeing Ghana’s figures ascend. The higher the number, the greater fears mantle consumers from patronizing goods and services through their engagement in congested atmospheres.

 

 

Meanwhile, various traders have called on the government to come to their aid in resolving the destitution created yet the Bamboo and Rattan Association in Kumasi have identified NGOs as the menace to their lack.

Speaking to SoireeNews, Mr. Boadu expressed that the various non-governmental organization after receiving funds from both local and foreign governments based on their petitions, organize workshops through which insufficient monies are shared to them, making it look like the amount comes from their pockets.

He called for them to be investigated and taken out of the way to welcome any alms from the country administrators.

“Every individual deserves to be given funds to finance his or her business yet the NGO takes benefit from us anytime we make a move. All they do is organize a workshop for us and at the end give us GH₵300 and GH₵200 cedis, which is not enough to finance our businesses.

 

 

“The government knows everything we are talking about and need to investigate the NGO’s. They can come to us and enquire about our needs rather than appointing the NGOs to act on our behalf. It’s not helping at all. They waste our time through workshops and give us monies we cannot use to better our trade,” he added.

The Bamboo and Rattan Association in Kumasi known for the production of furniture products manufactured from local materials other than wood have had production cut short following government’s ban on public gathering, which has affected weddings, church activities, schools, funerals, and many other activities as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. He spoke that the effects of the virus on their trade is worse and hope the disease dissolves in a little while.

 

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“Coronavirus has brought about low patronage of our products. The market has been heavily affected and it has made sales a greater challenge. The raw materials are not a problem anymore from the time the lockdown was lifted by the president. Because of the ban on social gatherings, funerals and weddings, the purpose of production has been banished for now and we are heavily affected very well. All we do is sit idle and watch time pass for the virus to disappear.

 

 

With the association scattered within the capital of the Ashanti Region - Railways, cultural center, Gee junction and ridge police station, the president spoke on the need for government to assemble them at a fixed location to help promote their trade.

“They (government) decided to help us by allocating The Bamboo and Rattan Association at Nkawie. The location was not favorable and did not help us at all.

"We need locations like the Accra Road where the environment is busier and people can easily reach us. Nkawie was out of range and it was not helping our consumers. We needed an open space easily to be located like Wood village and we are appealing to the Ministry of Trade to come to our aid,” he explained.

 

 

He called unto the Ministry to offer them the needed assistance to recover Made in Ghana goods and forbid Chinese goods that are distracting the Bamboo and Rattan trade.

“We are producers of made in Ghana goods and we are calling on the government to be attentive to us and empower our trade. The Chinese are importing the chairs, which is affecting our market so the government should place a ban on those Chinese made goods to help improve our trade. Ours is much quality than theirs so what is the essence of letting them distract our market?” he ended.