Authorities at the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) embarked on a tour on April 10, 2019, to familiarize with spare parts and electronics traders at Abossey-Okai and Rawlings Park respectively to address concerns on the benchmark values system on imported goods.
According to traders, documents on the benchmark values allegedly circulating on social media which did not include spare parts and electrical gadgets was alarming and a cause of worry.
Government had announced a reduction in the benchmark import values on imports by 50% while that of vehicles has been decreased to 30 to reduce the incidence of smuggling and enhance revenue.
This decision followed calls from groups like Ghana Union of Traders Associations (GUTA) for a review of the high taxes and duties on imported items.GRA tours Abossey-Okai, Rawlings Park to familarize with traders
GRA assured the dealers that the circulated document on social media is not the actual benchmark hence there was no need to panic while maintaining that the benchmark values cut across all sectors.
Customs Division Commissioner, Isaac Crentsil, guaranteed that, “We are standing on this platform to calm the fear that no product has been side-lined from the benchmark because the president said that all imported products are part of the benchmark. Therefore if you bring anything we are going to look at our benchmark in our system to see whether you are telling us the actual truth of your transaction.’’
