L.I to Restrict Imports, A Move to Create Business For NPP Supporters – Ato Forson

The Minority in Parliament has described plans by the government to restrict the importation of some selected strategic goods into the country as an arbitrary move to create business opportunities for NPP supporters and financiers.

The Minister for Trade and Industry Hon K T Hammond recently announced plans to lay before Parliament a legislative instrument to restrict the importation of rice, diapers, tripes among 22 other items in an attempt to boost local production and the economy as well.

Speaking to journalists, the Minority Leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson outlined some reasons why the government should back down on the policy.

“I am sad to see a draft legislation instrument that the government intends to lay. This NPP government intends to bring an L I that will restrict import and to create a committee to give permit to a prospective importer. What this simply means is that, going forward if you want to import rice, sugar, diapers, poultry and a number of items, approximately 22 selected items, you need to go to the Ministry of Trade and Industry to see a committee that will be constituted by the minister before a permit will be given to you and I think is a dangerous practice. And it has happened before in this country in 1967,” he revealed.

The minority leader stressed the establishment of Justice Olenu Committee in 1967 to identify the corruption relating to import licences. The report from the committee indicated that the practice is outmoded because it breeds corruption.

Hon Ato Forson stated emphatically that this current government has taken the country back to 1967.

“I am worried that a time will come, if you are not an NPP member you will not even get a licence to import something into this economy and that is unacceptable. Ghana is member of the World Trade Organisation, and the organisation frowns upon it, and it is a clear violation.”

The minority urged President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to not consider this policy because it is not something we should encourage as a country.

He said that Article 11(7) of the 1992 Constitution places a limitation on parliament on such decisions. Hence, the responsibility is upon the president and his vice to take action on this matter because the L.I. has received approval from the president.

Story by Nana Kwaku Boffah.