The presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, has unveiled his plans to impose import limitations on specific essential goods if he wins the December elections.
Highlighting that imports currently contribute about 40 percent to Ghana’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Mahama stressed the need for legislative measures to support local industries during a meeting with members of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) in Accra.
He outlined his strategy to rejuvenate vital sectors like the Volta Aluminium Company (VALCO), particularly focusing on the downstream aluminium industry.
Mahama emphasized that by enhancing local production capabilities for key items like rice, sugar, tomato, fish, poultry, meat, vegetable cooking oil, and pharmaceuticals, his government would impose restrictions on the unrestricted importation of these goods.
“We work to revamp and reignite strategic industries such as Volta Aluminium Company (VALCO) because of the downstream aluminium sector while boosting the production of rice, sugar, tomato, fish, poultry, meat and meat products, vegetable cooking oil, and pharmaceutical products.
“Once local capacity in the production of these and many other products is increased and boosted, we shall place restrictions on the unbridled importation of these items.”