Members of the Ghana Employers Association (GEA) of Ghana have called on the government to resource regulatory agencies to check the influx of cheap and counterfeit products into the country.

The association said counterfeit products are a major challenge for employers.

Addressing the 59th Annual General Meeting of the association, President of the GEA, Mr Daniel Acheampong, called on the government to adequately resource the regulatory agencies to check the menace.

He said: “One major challenge that inhibits the growth and sustainability of businesses is counterfeiting and illicit trade and here the textiles industry is a very good example.

“Counterfeit goods erode consumer confidence in the original brand and lead to long-term negative effects on local brand revenues.

“GEA has noted that the manufacturing sector, which represents a critical mass of the real sector of the Ghanaian economy, is becoming less competitive and this is partly due to illicit and counterfeit trading activities.

“As an association, we respectfully request that the government provide the regulatory agencies with the requisite resources to strengthen their efforts in combating counterfeit illicit trade in our country.”