Confectionary Traders Appeal For Suspension Of Duties

Dealers in and importers of confectionaries have appealed to the government to suspend the current import duties charged on confectionaries imported into the country.

They said since the beginning of this month, there had been a 150 per cent increase in duties charged for the importation of items such as biscuits and toffees.

The Spokesperson of the dealers and importers, Mr Charles Gyan, told the press Monday that failure to suspend the new duty rates would compel them to transfer the percentage increase to the final consumer.

Already, he said, some consumers were complaining about the prices of goods and services, adding that if nothing was done about the current situation, consumers would be worse off because the dealers and importers were businessmen and women who had to pay back loans they had taken from the banks.

“This is the Christmas period and if the current import duties are allowed to stay, then consumers will suffer because we will pass the increment to them,” he said.

Initially, he said, some of the importers and dealers paid between GH¢7,000 and GH¢8,000 to import their products, but “when we started going to the port this month to clear our goods, we are being told to pay amounts ranging from GH¢20,000”.

Mr Gyan said once the suspension dealers and importers were calling for was effected, the government should invite them (dealers and importers), together with the destination inspection companies, to discuss any future increase in duties charged, adding that members were aware that the duties charged at the ports were used to develop the country.

He said the importers and dealers were looking up to the government for a week, and that if nothing was done, “we will go and clear our goods from the ports and pass whatever increases there are to the final consumer”.

Mr Gyan said the importers had sent representatives to the Ministry of Trade and Industry to dialogue over the percentage increase but that had not been successful.

A dealer and importer, Hajia Fati, told the press that the recent increment had been a great “worry to us, as some of us ordered our goods long before the increase”.

That, she said, meant that they would have to look for extra money to clear their goods, as they were not aware of those huge duties.

“Everybody, especially schoolchildren, patronises biscuits and toffees. We are, therefore, appealing to the government to reconsider its decision now,” she pleaded.

The Organising Secretary of the dealers and importers, Elizabeth Amoako Attah, said she had been importing confectionaries for the past five years, adding, “This is the most ridiculous increase so far.”

She said they did not dispute the fact that the government needed revenue for development, but the 150 per cent increase was unacceptable.

Obaa Yaa, a dealer, said kids especially would suffer the most, since their parents would spend more to purchase only a few of their favourite biscuits for school, among other activities.

Mary Kwapong, for her part, said high duties had resulted in some people evading taxes through the use of unorthodox means to import goods, adding, “We do not want to do that, since we are genuine businessmen and women who want the state to get the needed revenue to develop.”