Government to reduce import duty

Government has put in place effective measures towards reducing the quantum of import duty payable at the Ghana’s ports and harbour.

The Majority Leader and Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Hon Osei Kyei- Mensah-Bonsu, who disclosed this, emphatically declared that Ghanaian importers will witness such reduction by May, this year.

According to him, as a listening government, such reduction has been necessitated due to the complaints from Ghanaian importers.

Hon Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, who is the Member of Parliament for Suame spelt these out during series of meetings with delegates of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the various electoral areas within the constituency.

The electoral areas include Kronum Aboahia, Kronum Kwapra, Bremang East, Bremang Central, Abusuakruwa, Maakro, Tarkwa Anomanye, and New Suame.

He said such reduction will pave way for Ghana’s ports and harbour to compete with other facilities in the neighbouring countries.

According to him, the current import duty is higher than those in the neighbouring countries, apart from Nigeria, adding this has motivated importers from Baukina Faso and Mali to use Togo’s ports and harbour due to their moderate import duty.

He regrettably disclosed that Ghana has lost considerable revenue payable by Baukina Faso and Mali importers following their decision to divert their route from Ghana to Togo.

On roads, Hon Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu assured the delegates of the government’s readiness to improve upon the roads in the constituency.

According to him, the contractor, who is preparing to commence the road construction next week, will start from AbusuAkruwa, Nkontwima and Tarkwa electoral areas simultaneously.

The Majority Leader appealed to the delegates to eschew acts that could breed disunity in the constituency, adding the delegates should help protect the existing peace in the area.

Source: Thepressradio.com/ Asante Richard