Scrap 2% import levy too – Importers Association tells gov't

The Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana has appealed to the government to scrap the 2 percent levy on import which mainly affects second-hand clothing dealers.

The Executive Secretary of the Association, Samson Awingobit, in an interview with Accra-based Citi FM said even though they are happy government has cancelled the 1 percent import levy they will be happier if the 2 percent is also scrapped.

“If parliament accepts this budget and approve it, the 1% special import duty will be abolished; but we still want to appeal to the ministry of finance that the special import levy we have 1% and 2%. The 1% people will be very happy to hear that the special import levy is gone; but we want to appeal to the ministry that it has 2% hiding there and of cause, maybe their attention wasn’t drawn; but we want to draw their attention that those who bring in second-hand clothing and other things at Kantamanto, they are still affected by the 2% special import levy.”

Awingobit said the tax cuts will help private businesses grow and also strengthen the country’s economy.

Ghana’s Finance Minister, Ken Ofori Atta announced on Thursday [March 2, 2017], during the delivery of the 2017 budget statement that government had abolished about twelve taxes including the 1% special import levy.

Some members of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) have described some of the cuts introduced as needless. But Awingobit said the tax cuts will result in the reduction of prices of goods.

“If raw materials import duties have been abolished and you produce locally, commodity prices will come down and you will produce more quantities for local consumption and even export to other countries,” he noted.