Parliament Suspends Move To Ban Importation Of Tripe, Rice, Poultry And 19 Other Strategic Products

• Parliament has suspended the laying of the Legislative Instrument to ban the importation of some strategic products
• The suspension follows concerns from the Minority in Parliament about a lack of engagement
• Sampson Asaki Awingobit, the Executive Secretary of the Importers and Exporters Association, told YEN.com.gh he was not in favour of the restrictions

Parliament has suspended laying the Legislative Instrument to ban the importation of 22 selected strategic products.

The suspension follows concerns from the Minority about a lack of engagement.

Among the items targeted by this regulatory initiative are staples such as rice, fruit juices, tripe (aka yemuadiɛ) and 18 other goods. The Minority has argued that regulation is not in the country's best interest.

The Speaker of Parliament urged the sector minister to address the concerns before they are laid.

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The government's push for these restrictions aligns with broader economic strategies and aims to address trade imbalances, domestic production, and overall financial stability issues.

Trade minister K.T. Hammond told journalists that the regulation would also shape the import landscape for critical commodities in Ghana.

Industry players send warning over the restrictions

Sampson Asaki Awingobit, the Executive Secretary of the Importers and Exporters Association, told YEN.com.gh that these restrictions could backfire.

Awingobit said Ghana has not yet positioned itself to take such drastic decisions.

He said Ghanaians needed assurances from the government and a plan to improve the production of the listed strategic products.

"The country doesn't have siloes where we can store rice in the country,” he noted as an example.

Below is the complete list of the "strategic products" the import restriction would affect if it comes into force:

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Gov't to ban "yemuadiɛ", rice and 20 other "strategic products" to protect local economy

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

Ghanaian musician begs Akufo-Addo to do something about import duties

In a separate story, YEN.com.gh reported that singer Wendy Shay, in a tweet, begged the president of Ghana to address the extreme cost of import duties in the country.

The musician lamented that import duties in the country were too much, especially on vehicles.

Many Ghanaians agreed with her assertion, stating that they have had such experiences when importing goods to Ghana.

Ghana bans importation of second-hand TV sets, fridges and 17 other electrical appliances

Meanwhile, YEN.com.gh reported in the past that the Energy Commission announced new regulations that ban the importation of 19 electrical appliances deemed substandard.

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The regulations came into force on November 2, 2022. However, the Commission said it will allow for a one-year grace period for market adjustment.

The policy, the Commission explained in a statement on Tuesday, January 31, 2023, is to prevent the excess energy demand these second-hand imported electrical appliances put on Ghana.

Source: YEN.com.gh