Government to review trade policies - Minister

The Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Kofi Apraku said the government would soon undertake a comprehensive review of trade policies to enhance the growth of local industries.

He said the numerous challenges facing the industrial sector could best be addressed through the enactment of appropriate legislation and policies but ruled out imposition of special taxes to deter imports.

He said the World Trade Organisations rules did not allow the imposition of special taxes, except in situations where there was substantial evidence that the goods were being dumped in a country.

Dr Apraku who was speaking during a tour of the Ghana Rubber Company, said currently the government was under pressure to remove the 10 per cent special tax imposed on certain categories of imports last year.

The Minister said it was important to provide an appropriate legal environment to allow the conduct of free trade and guarantee a level playing field to allow local industries to become competitive.

He said the current unbridled liberalisation policy, which allowed the importation of all kinds of goods rendered the local industries uncompetitive.

The only way out, the Minister stressed, was to sensitise Ghanaians on the need to patronise made-in-Ghana goods to raise government revenue and employment levels.

Ghana Rubber Company, which manufactures shoe soles, bathroom sandals (Charlie Wote) and car mats, employs 250 people.

The Managing Director, Mr Adnan Fakry said although the company's products were of high quality and cheaper, the importation of similar products from Malaysia, Nigeria and Cote d'Ivoire had rendered them uncompetitive.

He appealed to the Minister to grant a special tax waiver on some of the company's imported raw materials