The Minority has always maintained that the suspended Import Restriction Legislative Instrument (L.I) would breed corruption because it is not only capricious and opaque, but it is also designed to encourage the arbitrary exercise of unrestricted power in the hands of one person, specifically the Minister of Trade and Industry.
They argued that by vesting too much unfettered and unchecked power in the Minister to determine who qualifies or not to be granted a permit to import into the country as many as twenty (24) commodities, the regulations lend themselves to abuse of power, state capture and rent-seeking conduct reminiscent of the days of ‘essential commodities’ and ‘price control’.
“Indeed, various stakeholders including the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA), the Food and Beverages Association of Ghana, Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana, the Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders, Chamber of Automobile Dealership Ghana and the Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, have all joined us in all kicking against these proposed import restrictions,” a statement issued by the Minority Leader Dr Cassiel Ato Forson in response to the suspension of the L.I that sought to ban the importation of some 22 products, said
Minister of Information Kojo Oppong Nkrumah told journalists in Parliament on Thursday, December 7, that the suspension of the L.I was to allow further dialogue with stakeholders and to ensure everyone is on the same page.
He stressed the significance of this engagement, emphasizing the goal of increasing local manufacture of these commodities.
“The laying of the Legislative Instrument is being suspended to enable the various stakeholder groups who have still outstanding issues to have those issues discussed and hopefully addressed before the next line of action is taken on that particular policy,” the Ofoase Ayirebi Member of Parliament stated.
