Minority in Parliament has been commended by the Ghana Used Clothing Dealers Association for their decision to reject the proposed legislation pertaining to the importation of 22 specific strategic products.
Speaking at a press conference in Accra on Thursday, November 30, 2023, General Secretary of the Association Edward Binkley Atobrah said that if the proposed L.I. on imports is passed, it will result in job losses, lower wages, and a cascading effect on the financial security of workers and their families.
He said, “The Ghana Used Clothing Dealers Association takes pride in contributing to the livelihoods of over 5 million Ghanaians. Out of this workforce, 2.5 million individuals are directly engaged in the used clothing trade, with an additional substantial number working indirectly in related sectors such as Kayaye and tailoring.”
Atobrah asserted that, “Introducing a licensing system may create financial barriers, disproportionately affecting small and medium-sized businesses and hindering their participation in the trade.”
“The licensing process may introduce bureaucratic hurdles, leading to delays in imports and affecting the timely availability of affordable clothing for consumers,” he added.
Edward Binkley Atobrah made this statement in response to the recent remarks by the Minister of Trade and Industry, Kobina Tahir Hammond. Hammond, on the preceding Friday, mentioned that traders intending to import items outlined in the proposed import restrictions would be required to obtain approval.
KT Hammond clarified that the import restriction bill covering 22 commodities is designed to foster the nation’s development, promote local production, and not to cause food shortages, as some have perceived.
Speaking on Citi News, the Trade and Industry Minister said, “You apply to the committee and explain to them that you want to bring in this amount of quantity. The committee might then want to understand the amount of money involved. And thereafter, because the Agric Ministry and everybody is on board, the committee then will want to ascertain how much quantity the country can afford.”
“The gap between the locally produced rice and consumption and depending on that, you will be allowed the opportunity to import. At the same time, it’s intended to help the economy develop and also to conserve some foreign reserves,” he added.
Below are the list of 22 items considered for import restriction:
Rice
Guts, bladders and stomachs of animals
Poultry
Animal and vegetable oil
Margarine
Fruit juices
Soft drink
Mineral water
Noodles and pasta
Ceramic tiles
Corrugated paper and paper board
Mosquito coil and insecticides
Soaps and detergents
Motor cars
Iron and steel
Cement
Polymers (Plastics and Plastic Products)
Fish
Sugar
Clothing and apparel
Biscuits
Canned tomatoes