Importation of Selected Items Will Be Restricted to Bolster Local Business Mahama Pledges

The flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, has outlined his intentions to implement import restrictions on specific essential commodities should he be given the nod as the President of Ghana in the upcoming general elections.

Former President Mahama stated that the available data indicates that imports of goods and services currently contribute approximately 40 percent to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

In a stakeholder engagement with members of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) in Accra, former President John Mahama stressed the requirement of enacting laws that will bolster support for local businesses.

He outlined plans to revamp strategic industries such as the Volta Aluminium organization (VALCO), focusing on the downstream aluminium sector.

The former president asserted that by augmenting local production capacities for these items and others, his administration would implement restrictions on unchecked imports of these goods.

He said, “We work to revamp and reignite strategic industries such as Volta Aluminium organization (VALCO) because of the downstream aluminium sector while boosting the production of rice, sugar, tomato, fish, poultry, meat and meat products, vegetable cooking oil, and pharmaceutical products."

“Once local capacity in the production of these and many other products is increased and boosted, we shall place restrictions on the unbridled importation of these items.”Kobina Darlington/