The Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has reiterated his decision to make Ghana’s duty either at par or lower than that of Togo.
‘Ghana’s duty cannot be higher than Tog’so duty’ as he terms the new policy, according to the NPP flag bearer, is to curb the payment of import duties to neighbouring Togo due to smuggling of goods through their ports.
He says because Ghana’s neighbour’s duty are far lower than the country, people channel their goods there to pay lower duties and smuggle the products back to Ghana, with the government ending up losing the revenue.
According to the Vice President, he will set Ghana’s import duty either at par or below that of Togo, to ensure people do not engage in that smuggling which makes the government lose revenue in the end.
Speaking to artisans at the Suame Magazine in Kumasi Tuesday, June 11, 2024, as part of his nationwide campaign tour, Dr. Bawumia stated that the initiative is part of the measures he will adopt to reduce the burden on businessmen.
“Togo’s duty are lower than that of Ghana so people clear their containers in Togo and smuggle the goods back to Ghana and we lose the duty. So, I am bringing a new policy, ‘Ghana’s duty cannot be higher than Togo duty’. Our duty will not be higher than the Togo duty. It will either be equal or lower, the Vice President noted.
He added that “when we do that, nobody would smuggle to Togo and back to Ghana. When that happens, there would not be any need to put a task force in place to check smuggling of goods to Togo”
He also promised to take care of the task force that torment the businessmen in the course of their work.
“I have heard the challenges you go through with the task force so when I get to Accra, I will talk to them and get them off the way to stop the struggle you go through,” he assured.
