The Suame Magazine Spare Parts Dealers Association is calling on President John Dramani Mahama to honour his promise on flat-rate import duties, citing increasing frustration among its members despite recent gains of the Ghana cedi.
Addressing the media in Kumasi, Chairman of the Association, Godfred Adu Kofi, lamented what he described as a growing disparity between the strength of the local currency and the prevailing import duty rates.
“We are humbly calling on President John Dramani Mahama to fulfil his promises on flat-rate duties at the ports,” he appealed.
The group expressed concern that while the Ghana cedi has appreciated in value against major currencies, the expected downward adjustment in import duties has not materialized.
Adu Kofi noted that the stagnant or increasing duty charges are putting pressure on spare parts dealers, especially commercial drivers, who are now being blamed for not lowering prices.
“Our members, especially commercial drivers, are being accused of refusing to reduce prices despite the cedi’s gains. We urge government to act so we can also reduce prices,” he stressed.
The Association believes implementing a flat-rate duty system would ease the burden on importers and translate into fair pricing for the Ghanaian public.
