Ghana: Ministry to meet striking traders over tariff and tax hikes

Ghana’s Ministry of Trade and Industry is expected to meet striking traders unions over a three day strike that started yesterday and brought the central business district of the capital, Accra; to a standstill.

A member of the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) revealed that after day 1 of their strike, they received an invitation from the Ministry to an emergency meeting over their agitation.

The Union of Traders Association and its allied groups closed their shops in protest against taxes and high import duties.

Local media reports 19 business unions, including GUTA, Importer and Exporters Association of Ghana, Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders, Customs Brokers Association, Food and Beverages Association, the Ghana Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Ghana Automobile dealers Association declared the three day strike action which began on Monday, February 29 to March 2, 2016.

Shops in the capitals main business district on Monday were closed to that effect until Wednesday.

“No business man is a father christmas, once he pays the taxes over there (port) he will pass it on to the consumer,” said Kofi Boateng, deputy national co-ordinator of GUTA.

The Association gave the government a two week ultimatum to review the current taxes on import but the deadline elapsed without any response from government they said.

Meanwhile, the Minister of state at the presidency in charge of Public Private Partnership defended the increment of import taxes on a local radio station saying the aim is to develop the country without external help.

“The challenge we have is that, the economy is getting transformed,situations are changing. We are beginning to own our policies and initiatives, rather than an imposition from somewhere,mobilizing resources from within is prime in any economy,” said Dr. Rashid Pelpuo.

He however pleaded with the striking unions to reconsider their decision.