Dr. Owusu Akoto Afriyie, former Minister of Food and Agriculture, believes that the government should seriously explore prohibiting the importation of specific food commodities into Ghana in order to safeguard Ghanaian farmers and increase their worldwide competitiveness.
Dr. Owusu Akoto Afriyie emphasised that the government should reexamine the matter, despite Parliament rejecting an L.I. aimed at barring imports of 22 products in 2023.
Speaking at a seminar in Kumasi, he emphasised Ghana’s overreliance on imports, which he said had harmed many farmers, and asked the government to solve the matter immediately.
“It is unfortunate that in December 2023, the Ministry of Trade and Industry could not lay a legislative instrument to restrict the import of 22 selected food items, 12 of which are agricultural products that are cultivated by our local farmers. Our farmers are heavily disadvantaged under the current import regime and desperately need a level playing field in order to compete with their counterparts abroad.”
The Export and Import Regulations 2023 sought to restrict the importation of 22 selected strategic products such as sugar, rice, poultry, and tripe into the country.
The Minority Caucus in Parliament kicked against the bill.
Six associations, including 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), also wrote a petition kicking against the bill.
It was subsequently suspended after pressure from the public.
