Ghana International Trade Commission will tackle unfair trade - Bawumia

The Vice President, Mahamudu Bawumia, says government would in the coming days officially inaugurate the Ghana International Trade Commission (GITC) to deal with unfair trade issues and enhance the competitiveness of the local private sector, and contribute in making the ten key industrial transformation agenda a reality.

Speaking at the National Policy Summit on Trade and Industry Tuesday, he said Ghana International Trade Commission (GITC) would provide for the regulation of the international trade of Ghana in conformity with the rules and regulations of the world trade system.

“The Commission would look into complaints brought forward by the private sector in such matters as, subsidies of imported products by foreign governments; dumping of imported products into the domestic market; tariff adjustments; settlement of disputes between importers and the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority and any other measure which affects fair trade”, the Vice President said.

The event was on the theme, ‘The Industrial Transformation of Ghana’ aimed at interacting with stakeholders on the new agenda on trade and industry.

The Vice President said the two-day deliberations have been interactive saying, “the best way to share ideas. And I believe that the conclusions reached have emerged out of consensus building. This is yet another indication of the approach that this government intends to follow in our conversations with the private sector – to open up and provide spaces for dialogue, to be a listening facilitator, and determined to use bottom–up approaches to policy formulation and decision making. That is the best way to pursue our 10-point industrial development agenda captured under the following initiatives.”

He indicated that as part of a continental agenda, Ghana would soon enjoy the privileges under the Continental Free Trade Agreement which will bring to fruition a resolution passed at the 18th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union.

Dr Bawumia said in the coming months, government will engage stakeholders and sensitize the business community on this new continental direction for the country’s perspectives as government will continue to engage in dialogue to ensure a bold entrepreneurial skills and your competitiveness that will determine how far Ghana can take advantage of the opportunities of continental free trade.