Renowned journalist, Kwesi Pratt Jnr., has strongly advocated for the government to extend support to local businesses and farmers before enacting restrictions on food imports. The current push for legislation imposing limitations on the importation of food commodities has stirred significant debate, with Pratt expressing concerns about the potential repercussions on local enterprises and the wider economy.
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The bill, set forth in Parliament, aims to regulate the importation of essential food items, citing the need to address the decline of local businesses and the depreciation of the national currency. Minister of Trade, Kobina Tahir Hammond, stands behind this legislation, viewing it as a corrective measure to bolster domestic industries and stabilize the local currency.
However, if this bill is approved, a range of food commodities, including rice, fruit juice, margarine, cement, fish, sugar, and 16 other items categorized as "strategic products" by the government, will be subject to these restrictions. Notably, the move has sparked strong opposition from six prominent business associations, including the Ghana Union of Traders Associations (GUTA), Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana, Food and Beverages Association of Ghana (FABAG), Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders (GIFF), Chamber of Automobile Dealership Ghana (CADEG), and Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GNCCI), who have jointly voiced their concerns through a petition to Parliament, urging the rejection of the bill.
These associations have vehemently argued that the proposed restrictions could lead to a monopolistic or oligopolistic market structure, favoring a select few businesses at the expense of smaller enterprises. Additionally, they foresee logistical challenges in importation, difficulties in predicting market demands, and potential disruptions to the flow of goods into the country.
In light of this, Kwesi Pratt Jnr. acknowledged the importance of regulating food imports but cautioned against hasty implementation, emphasizing the need for the government to prioritize measures aimed at enhancing local production. He emphasized that the current level of local production is not commensurate with foreign imports, warning that the proposed legislation could have adverse effects on the populace by driving up prices without adequate local alternatives.
Speaking on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" show, Pratt emphasized the need for a strategic approach, stating, "The motive is not wrong, but if you take something like rice, comparing the rice we consume in this country to those imported from abroad, ours is not up to even 50%. So, as we currently haven't made arrangements to grow sufficient rice for us, bringing these measures is a punishment because the purchasing price will be expensive."
In conclusion, Pratt impresses upon the government the imperative of promoting local production to address deficiencies before rolling out stringent import regulations, urging the formulation of strategies that prioritize self-sufficiency and sustainability across various sectors, ultimately benefiting the citizens and the broader economy.
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