Government urged to reduce import duties on rice importation

Accra, Sept 2, GNA - The Food and Beverage Association of Ghana (FABAG), has called on Government to reduce import duties on imported rice to discourage smuggling of the produce into the country.

Mr John Awuni, an Executive Member of FABAG, at a press conference in Accra on Thursday said reducing import duties on the produce would rather help Government to earn more revenue as against the current situation where very little was earned due to the smuggling.

The press conference was to state FABAG's position on recent media reports that rice smuggling led to loss of 40 million dollars annually to the nation.

Members of FABAG are mainly restaurant and food joint owners spread across the country.

Mr Awuni said the main reason for the smuggling of rice was the high disparity in import duties that existed between Ghana and her neighbouring countries, with Ghana recording the highest in the region of 37 per cent as against 12.5 per cent maximum in neighbouring Cote D'Ivoire.

He called on Government to ensure a better management of the country's ports to encourage local production as well as create market for local production.

Mr Awuni called for funds to support agriculture as well as an engagement with relevant stakeholders including consumers to arrest the situation.

He said there was the need to enforce laws on smuggling and urged member countries of Economic Community of West African States to implement a common external tariff regime.