Minority Raises Red Flags Over New LI To Restrict Importation Of 22 Commodity Items

The minority National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Ghana’s legislative arm has raised red flags over the introduction of a draft Legislative Instrument (LI) into parliament for the restriction of some 22 item commodities into the country.

It has accordingly called on President Akufo-Addo to immediately cause the withdrawal of the regulation which will restrict the importation of items such as rice, fruit juice, margarine, cement, fish, sugar and 16 other “strategic products.

Addressing a press conference in Parliament House on Thursday November 23, 2023, minority leader, Dr Casiel Ato Forson said the draft LI to be laid by the Akufo-Addo government will create a separate committee that would be expected to grant permit for prospective importers to import the selected items.
He described the proposed LI as a dangerous practice since it will return the country to the past where the practice was ripe.

“We are urging the President to have a rethink because this is not a policy that we should encourage and they have to withdraw it,” Dr Forson stated.

The minority leader recalled the Justice Ollennu Committee which was established in the 60s to identify corruption and malpractices relating to import licences, statingthat “the report was clear that the practice was outmoded and it cannot be continued because people use it for the purposes of rent-seeking.”

He explained that restricting importation will rather fuel inflation in the country which will lead to the worsening of the burden of Ghanaians.

The Ajumako-Enyan Esiam lawmaker indicated that government cannot restrict the importation of goods when there are no ready substitutes.

“If they had created domestic production for some of these items, I would have no issue. But clearly, we know they want to restrict sugar but we do not have a sugar processing plant. The one that Mr Mahama actually constructed, this government is refusing to open it so where is the sugar going to come from?

“What they are seeking to do is to create businesses for their financiers,” he claimed.

The LI he said if allowed to pass, will limit traders from getting licence to import products due to political influence as it may become an avenue for New Patriotic Party members only.
Ranking Member on the Trade and Industry committee and deputy minority leader, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah buttress his leaders concerns and stated that the proposal frowns on the provisions of the World Trade Organisation (WTO0.

Find the full list of 22 items considered for import restriction below:

1. Rice
2. Guts, bladders and stomach of animals
3. Poultry
4. Animal and Vegetable Oil
5. Margarine
6. Fruit Juices
7. Soft Drink
8. Mineral Water
9. Noodles and Pasta
10. Ceramic Tiles
11. Corrugated Paper and Paper Board
12. Mosquito Coil and Insecticides
13. Soaps and Detergents
14. Motor Cars
15. Iron and Steel
16. Cement
17. Polymers (Plastics and Plastic Products)
18. Fish
19. Sugar
20. Clothing and Apparel
21. Biscuits
22. Canned Tomatoes

By: Christian Kpesese/www.eagleghana.com