Godfred Bokpin, a professor of Finance at the University of Ghana
Godfred Bokpin, a professor of Finance at the University of Ghana has made public his disapproval of the suspended Import Restriction Bill.
He is calling for a clear policy direction and transparent procedures.
Prof Bokpin is worried the government is poised on imposing import restrictions without a clear groundwork that will facilitate industrial growth in Ghana.
“I didn't support it [import restrictions bill]. One, it should not be the ministry to select who can and who cannot import, that's wrong. And then also the communication of the policy is very important. So there has to be a clear policy direction and you actually start from somewhere,” Prof Bokpin said in a report on myjoyonline.com.
He added that, “We didn't start from somewhere and we wanted to start with restricting import. What is the motive? That's not going to work and that's why we didn't support it. It was not just to ban those imports; the ministry will now determine who will qualify to import them,” he noted.
He acknowledged that while some government intervention is necessary, it should not involve restrictions on who can import goods, especially since many of these items, though produced in Ghana, are often not available in sufficient quantities to fully meet domestic demand.
In December 2023, the government suspended the Import Restrictions Bill, which aimed to require importers of 22 restricted items, including poultry, rice, sugar, diapers, and animal entrails, to obtain licenses from a committee to be established by the trade minister.
EAN/NOQ
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