President of the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA), Dr Joseph Obeng has declared unfinished business with government over its intended scrapping of the benchmark value policy which initially offered between 50% and 30% off imported products.
According to him, government cannot “reverse” the trading community back to a problem it sought to address by introducing the benchmark policy, which it currently proposes to withdraw. He explained that through consultation with GUTA, government can find ways of addressing the challenges businesses are confronted with.
The GUTA President revealed that government promised to dialogue with the association which “hasn’t come” on and until they confirm that they are not going to be “reversed” back to the problem, he won’t accept the decision of reversal of the policy.
“We have unfinished business with government if this thing [benchmark policy] will be allowed to go because the benchmark value reduction did not come out of the blue… The acceptance of it that government reduced the benchmark as an alternative to mitigate the plight of the trading community, the problem still persists. If there’s a problem and you proffer a solution to it by using the benchmark reduction policy, if you’re even taking off the benchmark then you’re now taking us definitely to the problem”.
Dr Joseph Obeng
Engagement on benchmark value policy
Meanwhile, President of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), Dr Yaw Adu Gyamfi, has called on GUTA to collaborate with them to support the production of made in Ghana products. According to him, the interest of local manufacturers must be prioritized first.
Speaking at its ongoing 61st annual general meeting, the outgoing President expressed shock over GUTA’s resistance to the reversal of the benchmark policy.
“We are very surprised from the reaction of our colleagues from the Ghana Union of Traders Association. We thought they would rather rally behind us to support local industries for growth since we have been talking about making Ghana products for all these years. I would like to take this opportunity and I will urge the AGI to [urge] our colleagues from GUTA to cooperate with us… Our doors are always opened and we are ready to engage on this matter with our colleagues from GUTA. The principle should remain clear that industrialization is our key for development in any country”.
Dr Yaw Adu Gyamfi
Reacting to this development, Dr Joseph Obeng, disclosed that it is a welcome news as discussion between the two parties is “long overdue”. He explained that his outfit is a relevant institution in nation building and forms an integral part of manufacturing. As such, due to the fact that the AGI considers itself a “stand alone” is the reason why they are failing.
“Not until they’ve recognized this fact and work with us hand-in-hand and stop destroying us they will never also succeed. So, the call from their President is in the right direction. But in the meantime, we’ve made a lot of concessions for the manufacturing sectors and we can’t make any further concessions again. The fact that we have the benchmark value, they are enjoying and we are also enjoying the benchmark value, they are lobbying government to take the benchmark from us and maintain the benchmark for them”.
Dr Joseph Obeng
Following this, Dr Obeng quizzed why the AGI sought to “destroy the trading sector” and have their way. He expressed his obstinacy and noted that he would not “allow” the AGI have its way or “concede” to them.
