‘We are really down” – Bookbinders eye GH¢600k gov’t bail-out as covid-19 crisis cripples businesses

The bookbinding industry is among businesses crying out to government for support following the crippling economic effects of the deadly COVID-19 pandemic.

The bookbinders association say they barely make enough to pay workers and cover other expenses as most schools have been closed in accordance with the president’s orders last March.

Chairman of the Book Binders Association, Nana Kwaku Antwi Boasiako, in a Joynews interview monitored by theghanareport.com said the decision by President Akufo-Addo has affected them terribly.

“This COVID-19 has affected the association. We are really down. We take a lot of orders from schools and this month, May, is usually the time book binding is usually at its peak. We work hand in hand with Ghana Education Service so any decision taken affects us terribly.

“How to even get money when the pandemic is over is a big problem,” he lamented and added that most factories have been shut for weeks, with the machines gathering dust.

He fears the machines could rust if the COVID-19 pandemic continues to July.

It is his hope that the association would benefit from the GH₵600,000 stimulus package announced by the government to support small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs).

“We have heard that they have allocated some GH₵600,000 to businesses so we are praying that we will be factored in because if schools should be allowed to operate now, we have no means of starting up,” he said with a heavy sigh.

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