Sollatek is working hard to eliminate product counterfeiting as it improves on service availability to Ghanaian consumers.
Sales and Marketing Director for Worlwide Sollatek, Dr. Maan Allos, says though efforts to fight the menace in Ghana has yielded some positive results, more needs to be done to nib it in the bud.
At a seminar for over 40 business partners in Kumasi, Mr. Maan revealed between five and ten of the company’s products have been imitated.
It followed a similar seminar organized for customers, retailers and distributors in Accra recently.
Established in the United Kingdom 30-years ago, Sollatek is a leading manufacturer of specialist gadgets which protect electrical and electronic equipment.
Sollatek products include Voltage protection, telecoms, refrigeration control, Solar and Voltage Optimization products, designed and prototyped by engineers at a facility based in the United Kingdom. These are later distributed to over 190 countries nationwide.
Counterfeiting
Officials say some people have been arrested in Ghana for faking or imitating Sollatek products, especially, fridge guards.
At least, five suspects were arrested and prosecuted last year in Kumasi alone between 2014 and 2015. Similar arrests have been made in Accra as well over the period after officials of Sollatek collaborated with police to cramp down on imitators.
Sales and Marketing Director for Worldwide Sollatek, Dr. Maan Allos revealed Sollatek with the support of police has over the years managed to bring the rate of counterfeiting of Sollaatek products in Ghana.
“We have managed to contain it. It used to be a lot more wide spread than what it is now. I will probably say we don’t have the exact figures. In some areas it could be 5 % or 10 % but in other areas, you know there are no counterfeit issues at all so always focus on where Sollatek authorized resellers are”.
Dr. Maan has appealed for public support to check the illegal practice which he says is dangerous to human life
“Counterfeits are happening in every aspect of life but as I mentioned earlier, when it comes to drugs, food and electricity, these three areas of counterfeits that you should really not fraternize. These are dangerous to you and your family and could cause catastrophic issues”. Dr. Maan Allos has said.
Marketing Manager of Sollatek Ghana, Thomas Akogliya called on industries to join the fight against the counterfeit canker. He blamed fire outbreaks on the importation of fake electrical products from China and other countries.
“Counterfeit is a very big issue facing all industries and we must all ensure we fight the canker. We have a lot of fire outbreaks here and there as a result of people bringing in fake and counterfeit from China and the rest and I will entreat customers to buy from genuine Sollatek dealers”. Mr Akogliya revealed.
Improved Services
Meanwhile, Dr. Maan has announced plans to improve service availability to Ghanaian consumers, as a new service center opens in Kumasi to cater for customers in the Northern sector.
The announcement follows appeals by some customers and retailers to authorities to open a service center to cater for demands of those in the Northern sector of Ghana.
“We are looking to improve our service availability. At the moment we still give our best service through Accra but we are all looking to actually open service center in Kumasi and hopefully that will happen before June. So we hope to be able to offer a very quick turnaround on any issue that you may have”.
By Ohemeng Tawiah
