The majority in parliament said that in order to guarantee that the Import and Export Regulations 2023 are sanitised before they are introduced, they will meet with the minority caucus today.
When the Minister tried to present the Legislative Instrument (LI) to the house, the Minority objected a second time. The LI aims to limit the importation of some specific strategic foodstuffs including rice, chicken, and sugar.
Speaking to reporters, Majority Chief Whip Frank Annoh-Dompreh expressed optimism that a compromise would be reached so that the LI could be tabled.
“Starting from Monday, I will personally get involved. It has been limited to subsidiary legislation and other constitutional bodies. We will also get involved and ensure that we sanitize it. Because we are not doing this with mischief, and because nobody has absolute control over what is good and what is not good… more than 90% of all the amendments proposed came from our side, specifically the Majority Leader.”
“So if it’s the case that we are engaging in abetment of crime and therefore on the quiet we are supporting Minister K.T Hammond to do the wrong thing, why would we come out and publicly make amendments?”
Meanwhile, some six business associations have also kicked against the LI asking Parliament to immediately reject it to allow for further consultations.
The groups under the umbrella name, Joint Business Consultative Forum include the Ghana Union of Traders’ Associations (GUTA), Food and Beverages Association of Ghana (FABAG), Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana, Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders (GIFF), Chamber of Automobile Dealership Ghana (CADEG), and Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GNCCI) have petitioned Parliament over the bill.
