Ban imports of goods Ghana can produce – B5 Plus Chairman tells government

Chairman of B5 Plus, Mukesh Thakwani, has called on the government to consider banning imports of products that can be manufactured locally to support Ghanaian industries, create jobs and reduce pressure on foreign exchange.

Speaking during a media engagement with the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Thakwani said Ghana’s domestic manufacturing capacity remained underutilised while competing imported products continued to enter the market.

He cited capacity utilisation of below 50% in some parts of the manufacturing sector and argued that local producers had the capacity to increase output to meet domestic demand and supply other markets in the sub-region.

“So we are not only producing the goods for Ghana but also for the West African market,” he said.

Thakwani urged the government to review the continued importation of products that can be produced locally and raised concerns about exemptions granted to some imported goods that compete with locally manufactured products.

He also called for a review of the tax treatment of certain imports, arguing that local manufacturers needed a more supportive policy environment to expand production.

According to him, increasing local production could help Ghana retain more foreign exchange while creating additional employment opportunities.

Thakwani also highlighted B5 Plus’s investment in prefabrication capacity, saying the company was positioning itself to compete in international markets.

He said the company’s adoption of ISO certification and the Kaizen approach to continuous improvement formed part of its efforts to maintain quality and improve production efficiency.

His comments came after the GRA recognised B5 Plus for its tax compliance.

B5 Plus presents GH¢400 million tax cheque to GRA

“We accept this recognition with humility and it encourages us to work even harder and contribute even more to the development and prosperity of our country,” he said.

Thakwani said B5 Plus remained committed to responsible corporate governance, continued investment, job creation and meeting its tax obligations.

DR/MA

Technology will be key to improving air traffic management – President Mahama