‘I’ll infuse industrialization into your trading if elected president’ — Cheddar tells GUTA

Independent presidential candidate Nana Kwame Bediako, known affectionately as Cheddar, met with members of the Ghana Union of Traders Association on Wednesday to discuss challenges facing the trade sector and his vision to support local businesses if elected.

Cheddar acknowledged the heavy tax burden traders currently face which eats into their profits.

“I can't promise free taxes but I will look into making them more reasonable straight away," he said.

With high import duties and taxes, the business mogul observed most traders often spend 60-70% of costs on taxes alone, leaving little profit margin.

To address this, Cheddar proposed boosting local manufacturing and industrialization to reduce reliance on imports.

“I want to infuse industrialization into your trading, so that many items you now go to China to buy can be made here," he told GUTA members.

This, he said, would allow traders to source locally at lower costs and distribute within Ghanaian markets.

However, Cheddar said such a plan would first require placing "an embargo on outsiders who are invading your trading in the country."

He further noted that with huge influx of imports, local traders have struggled to compete as such protecting the domestic market would allow local industries to take root before facing international competition.