AGI Lauds Govt’s Decision To Regulate Imported Goods

The Chief Executive Officer of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), Seth Twum-Akwaboah, has backed the government’s decision to regulate imported goods into the country.

This comes after President Akufo-Addo in an address to the nation on the state of the economy on Sunday October 30th 2021 revealed that government will by May 2023 review the standards required for imports into the country.

“In as much as we believe in free trade, we must work to ensure that the majority of goods in our shops and marketplaces are those we produce and grow here in Ghana,” the President said on Sunday.

“Products such as rice, poultry, vegetable oil, toothpicks, pasta, fruit juice, bottled water and ceramic tiles, and others which, with intensified government support and that of the banking sector, can be manufactured and produced in sufficient quantities in Ghana. Government will, in May 2023, that is six months from now, review the situation,” he said.

Akufo Addo also urged the general public to as a matter of urgent national security, reduce our dependence on imported goods, and enhance our self-reliance, as demanded by our overarching goal of creating a Ghana Beyond Aid.

Reacting to the issue on Atinka FM’s AM Drive , the  CEO AGI, Seth Twum-Akwaboah said his outfit has always been a firm believer of promoting locally made products.

According to Seth Twum-Akwaboah, our dependence on imported goods greatly affects local industries.

Political science analyst, Prof. John Osei Bobbie earlier called for the suspension of imported goods that can be produced locally.

“There are some goods that, after being imported, end up at the dam site, despite the fact that we send millions of dollars to import them.” It’s past time to impose trade restrictions on some products imported into the country. These are some of the reasons why MPs want a new Finance Minister. Why should we spend dollars to import toilet rolls into the country when we can produce them locally? The importation of certain goods into the country must be halted,” Prof. John Osei Bobbie told Kaakyire Ofori Ayim.

AGI Executives met with His Excellency the President of Ghana to discuss the economy