Custom Says Benchmark Valuation Not Against WTO Rules

On the new reductions with regard to benchmark valuation, the Assistant Commissioner of Customs explained that they had already adjusted its systems to reflect the discount given by the government.

“We use home-delivery value to determine the value of a vehicle. The home-delivery value is the value of a vehicle at the time of manufacture.

“So the government is saying that the home delivery value of an imported vehicle will be discounted first of all by 30 per cent and then based on the age of a vehicle, per the law, it will now start depreciating.

“If the vehicle is less than six months, it is considered a new vehicle and the true value will be applied but if it is above that, the value depreciates in stages,” he added.

Building capacities of SMEs

The Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Carlos Kingsley Ahenkorah, in a speech read on his behalf by his Special Assistant, Michael Opoku, stated that the government was now building the capacity of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to undertake big ticket projects.

“A strong SMEs sector is important for the growth of every economy, advanced or developing.

“In Ghana, more than 84 per cent of all registered businesses fall in this category with a similar proportion of the industrial sector making it into the category,” he added.

The forum

The forum, which is an initiative of GGEA, is a series of dialogues that feature selected topics and is aimed at influencing government policies in favour of businesses.

It brought together players in the private sector, policy makers and people from the government to deliberate on the Ghanaian business environment.

On the theme: “The Ghanaian Environment Today”, the forum had speakers such as the President of GGEA, Stephen Antwi, and Head of Corporate Banking at Access Bank Ghana, Matilda Asante.

Other speakers were the Managing Director of Regimanuel Concrete Product, Christian Braun, and the Head of Competence Centre, Stefanie Simon.

—Graphic.com.gh