A market surveillance task force has been launched in Ghana to protect local producers from unfair competition and dumping of substandard imports. The task force is a joint initiative of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) and the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA), and it will monitor the quality and compliance of imported products, especially electric cables, sanitary pads, textiles, and diapers.
The Chief Executive Officer of AGI, Seth Twum-Akwaboah, announced the formation of the task force at the annual general meeting of the Tema Chapter of the association last Tuesday. He said the task force would ensure that imported products met national quality standards and did not undercut locally manufactured goods.
He said the AGI had conducted investigations and found that most of the imported products were unbranded and substandard, posing significant challenges to local producers who were committed to quality and adherence to standards. He also said the AGI had been advocating for the removal of duplicity of taxes, which had constrained members who had to pay nearly 52 per cent in taxes.
He commended the government for introducing the zero Value Added Tax (VAT) regime for the textile industry, which had shielded it from the devastating effects of counterfeiting and cheap textile imports. He appealed to the government to maintain the policy and to support the textile industry with other incentives.
The Tema regional chairman of AGI, Dr Eddie Akwetey, also highlighted some of the challenges faced by the industries in the area, such as rising utility tariffs, a depreciating cedi, and rampant increases in the cost of goods and services. He also called for the improvement of infrastructure, especially roads, within the Tema industrial enclave to enhance business operations.
The meeting also discussed the opportunities and benefits of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCTA), which is expected to create a single market for goods and services across Africa. The participants expressed their readiness to take advantage of the agreement and to expand their businesses to other African countries.
The Tema regional executive of the association was also reaffirmed for a new tenure of office, with Dr Akwetey retaining his position as chairman.
Source: Graphic Online
