The Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) has urged government to stay away from reviewing the 50percent and 30percent benchmark value policy on general goods and cars respectively that are imported into the country.
Addressing a press conference, the President of GUTA, Dr. Joseph Obeng averred that the benchmark policy has been a mitigating factor during the outbreak of the COVID 19 pandemic in 2020 and has helped businesses to sustain prices of goods despite the surge in freight resulting from the adverse global effect of the pandemic.
He stated that, “we will agree that the 50percent benchmark value reduction did not come out of the blue. For years, businesses in the country have been crying over high rates of import duties.”
He predicted a 25percent increase in the price of general goods, should there be any attempt by government to review or reverse the values.
He warned that any attempt to introduce this policy in the 2022 Budget will disrupt Ghana’s distribution sector and charged members of GUTA not to pay any additional amount on duty for clearance.
Meanwhile, the Food and Beverage Association of Ghana is also warning of some disruption in the value chain of beverage products, ahead of the Christmas season should the policy be reversed in the 2022 Budget.
The President of the Automobile Dealers Association of Ghana, Eric Kwaku Boateng said the prices of vehicles in the country will increase if the 30percent benchmark values on cars is reversed.