Restrictions on food imports a call in the right direction but...— Kwesi Pratt to gov’t

Seasoned journalist Kwesi Pratt Jnr. has urged the government to prioritize support for local businesses and farmers before implementing proposed restrictions on food imports.

The call comes in reaction to a bill laid before Parliament seeking to legislate the importation of certain food items, with the aim of addressing the decline of local businesses and the depreciation of the national currency.

The bill, championed by the Minister of Trade, Kobina Tahir Hammond, proposes restrictions on 22 strategic items, including rice, fruit juice, margarine, cement, fish, sugar, and other products.

However, the proposed legislation has faced strong opposition from six major business associations in the country.

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) have jointly submitted a petition to Parliament, urging the rejection of the bill.

The associations argue that “the import restrictions could lead to a monopolistic or oligopolistic market situation, favoring a few select businesses at the expense of smaller enterprises.”

They express concerns that the proposed permit system may hinder the efficient flow of goods into the country, as importers would no longer have the flexibility to respond to market demands.

Kwesi Pratt Jnr., while acknowledging the government's intention to regulate food imports as a step in the right direction, emphasized the need for comprehensive measures to boost local production before implementing such restrictions.

In an interview on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" morning show, he pointed out that local production currently falls short of meeting the demand for essential items like rice.

Mr Pratt argued that imposing restrictions without enough local supplies in place could lead to higher prices and adversely affect consumers.

"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," Pratt explained.