The Chief Executive Officer of Extra Comfort Foam Limited, Nana Kwabena Appiah, who is also the Nkosuohene of Atwima Yabi, has appealed to government to urgently come to the aid of local foam manufacturing companies in Ghana.
He made the call during a working visit by the District Chief Executive (DCE) for Atwima Kwanwoma, Hon. Grace Agyemang Asamoah, to the company as part of her engagement with businesses across the district to foster stronger relationships and enhance collaboration for local economic growth.
Nana Kwabena Appiah expressed concern over what he described as unfair competition within the foam industry, alleging that some foreign operators are using plastic waste to manufacture substandard mattresses. According to him, these inferior products, which are sold at very cheap prices, have captured about 75 per cent of the local foam market, leaving indigenous producers struggling to survive on the remaining 25 per cent, which he said has become increasingly difficult to sustain.
He emphasized that while competition is healthy for business growth, it must be fair and based on genuine standards. He therefore called on the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) to intensify its regulatory role and “crack the whip” to sanitize the system, stressing that effective regulation would help protect and grow Ghanaian-owned businesses.
Nana Kwabena Appiah warned that allowing fraudulent and substandard producers to thrive at the expense of local firms could lead to the collapse of Ghanaian industries, thereby undermining national development. He added that the closure of local companies would worsen unemployment among the youth, which could, in turn, breed social vices and criminal activities.
In addition to industry concerns, the CEO also appealed to government to pay road contractors to enable them return to site to complete stalled projects. He noted that poor road networks, particularly within the Atwima Kwanwoma District, are putting undue pressure on the few vehicles available for industrial and commercial activities, thereby increasing operational costs for businesses.
The visit formed part of the DCE’s broader strategy to strengthen public–private partnerships and address challenges confronting businesses as a means of promoting sustainable development within the district.
By: Samuel Antwi