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The Minister of Information Hon Kwadwo Oppong Nkrumah says government will soon ban the importation of foods and products which can be produced locally.
The move according to the Minister forms part of efforts by government to reduce the high cost of living in the country.
Addressing the nation on the economy on Sunday October 30, 2022, President Akufo-Addo said, “we will review the standards required for imports into the country, prioritize the imports, as well as review the management of our foreign exchange reserves, in relation to imports of products such as rice, poultry, vegetable oil, tooth picks, pasta, fruit juice, bottled water and ceramic tiles, and others which, with intensified government support and that of the banking sector, can be manufactured and produced in sufficient quantities in Ghana. Government will, in May 2023, that is six (6) months from now, review the situation. We must, as a matter of urgent national security, reduce our dependence on imported goods, and enhance our self-reliance, as demanded by our overarching goal of creating a Ghana Beyond Aid“.
“Much as we believe in free trade, we must work to ensure that the majority of goods in our shops and market places are those we produce and grow here in Ghana. That is why we have to support our farmers and domestic industries, including those created under the 1-District-1-Factory initiative, to help reduce our dependence on imports, and allow us the opportunity to export more and more of our products, and guarantee a stable currency that will present a high level of predictability for citizens and the business community. Exports, not imports, must be our mantra! Accra, after all, hosts the headquarters of the Secretariat of the African Continental Free Trade Area“.
Speaking on the Kumasi based OTEC 102.9 FM’s breakfast show, “Nyansapo” on Monday October 31,2022 Hon Oppong Nkrumah said government will use the next six months to boost the capacity of local companies to create more jobs and indigenous products at the same time.
He added that, excessive importation certain products particularly foods that can be produced in Ghana will be ban after local producers begin to feed the economy with the needed capacity
“Government has deployed pragmatic and practical strategies to strengthen the capacities of local producers to help increase the local production of food items”.
“We have for already acknowledged that, the present economic woes of the country were as a result of high rate of importation and demand for foreign goods, especially food items”.
“That is why the government has decided to ban importation of certain goods such as poultry products, rice, fish, cooking oil among others”. He said.
He noted that, the high taste for foreign goods was seriously affecting local production adding that government is taking urgent steps to control the situation.
