In line with President John Mahama’s promise to remove the law banning the importation of salvaged vehicles into the country, the Trade Minister, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, has been engaging stakeholders in the automobile industry.
The Customs (Amendment) Act 2020, prohibits the importation of salvaged motor vehicles, including those wrecked, destroyed or damaged by collision, fire, water or other occurrences.
But the President during the 2024 election campaign promised to review the Act to allow for the importation of those vehicles on the ground that it was negatively impacting artisans in the industry and the transport business.
To achieve this, the Minister has embarked on stakeholder consultation to elicit their views as part of efforts to amend the Act as promised by the then National Democratic Congress (NDC) Flag Bearer.
She has since engaged dealers in brand new cars, second-hand car dealers and assemblers in Accra to collate their concerns ahead of the amendment.
The latest to be engaged by the Minister is the Suame Magazine Industrial Development Organisation (SMIDO) in Kumasi, which is made up of various trade associations in the Suame Magazine enclave.
Mrs. Ofosu-Adjare assured them of the President’s commitment to redeem his promise to enhance their businesses as major players in the automobile industry.
She said she would conclude her stakeholder consultation at Kokompe in the coming days to pave way for the amendment of the Act as promised by the President.
“President Mahama promised that within 120 days of his assumption of office, he will start processes to amend the Act but I am very sure that we are even finishing within the 120 days,” the Minister stated.
She assured them of her commitment to take steps to address other issues raised during the engagement, saying that the growth of industries remained a priority to the government.
Responding to a request for a foundry by the artisans, the Minister assured them of discussing the issue with the President to see how best to position Suame Magazine to discharge its mandate.
“This is a one-stop shop for automobiles and I think that as a country, we need to pay attention to Suame Magazine and that is exactly what President Mahama has asked me to do,” she assured the artisans.
Dr. Frank Amoakohene, the Ashanti Regional Minister, said engagements by the Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry was a demonstration of the government’s commitment to work closely with stakeholders in building the Ghana we all want.
He said the NDC government appreciated the overwhelming support of Ghanaians and would always prioritise their interests for the collective good of the nation.
Anthony Owusu Akyaw, General Secretary of SMIDO, applauded the government for walking the talk, saying that investing in artisans would boost the national economy in diverse ways.
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