FABAG cautions government against ECOWAS tariff harmonisation

Accra, Dec. 3, GNA - The Food and Beverages Association of Ghana (FABAG) on Thursday appealed to government not to implement the proposed Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) tariff harmonisation until neighbouring countries were ready to reciprocate.

"Should Ghana implement the ECOWAS harmonised tariffs, which are increases on existing tariffs for rice and poultry products before actual implementation by countries bordering us, existing regional distortions wil= l be accentuated and trade in Ghana will suffer to the detriment of the economy, government revenue and employment."

This was contained in a statement signed by Mr John Awuni, Member of the association and copied to the Ghana News Agency in Accra.

The statement commended Vice President John Dramani Mahama for announcing that government would review the bonded warehouse system, which Dr Kwabena Duffuor, Minister of Finance and Economic Planning said it would be abolished in the 2011 National Budget Statement.

Government has proposed to increase and implement the harmonised ECOWA= S tariffs on rice, poultry products and sugar in the statement, which ECOWAS member countries proposed to implement in relation to import taxes.

Mr Awuni said although FABAG was not against government's implementation of taxes to generate more income, rice production in the country was woefully inadequate to satisfy the demands of Ghanaian consumer= s and as such the increases would have negative rippling effects on consumers= ..

He said Ghanaians consumed more imported rice than the local product due mainly to availability, reliability and high quality.

Mr Awuni said the tariffs could create rice shortage as importers woul= d be compelled to sell at much higher prices.

"Already, Ghanaian rice importers are paying higher taxes even to th= e tune of 40 per cent as compared to her neighbours and the implementation of the harmonised ECOWAS tariffs will further raise it to (more than) 50 per cent which will not only encourage smuggling from neighbouring countries, but will also cause price hikes, create shortage of the commodity and unemployment."

He said Togo, Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast, used the bonded warehouses and less than 30 per cent import tariffs, which encouraged a lot of people in Ghana to smuggle the commodity.

The statement recommended to government to maintain the bonded warehouse system with shorter limits of time between six months and one year.

Mr Awuni appealed to the Executive to maintain the current duty tariff= s until all neighbouring countries raised their taxes at par and continue to dialogue with stakeholders for increased and improved revenue collection.