President announces specialized unit to tackle unfair trading activities

Unfair trading activities in Ghana will be dealt with, as President John Mahama announced September 4, 2012 the creation of a specialized enforcement unit to tackle the matter.

In his first policy statement since assuming the office of the President, Mr Mahama said the unit will be charged with investigating unfair trading practices.

“I am announcing the creation of a Trade Enforcement Unit that will be charged with investigating unfair trading practices in this country,” President Mahama said on state TV.

He pledged that there will be more inspections to “prevent counterfeit or unsafe goods” from crossing the country’s borders.

President Mahama was emphatic that his government will make sure that “no foreign company has an undue advantage over Ghanaian manufacturing” when it comes to accessing financing or new markets.

Meanwhile opposition party, the Progressive People’s Party (PPP) has questioned the commitment of the President in protecting local industries.

“The President did not go far enough to make a commitment to support the Ghanaian manufacturing industry,” the PPP said in a statement in reaction to Mahama’s policies.

“We would want a bold initiative that protects local industries form cheap imports. An introduction of tariffs, quotas and other measures are practical enough to ensuring that we protect the market for our manufacturing industry,” the party said.

For the PPP, the statement said “We will use the state’s purchasing power to support our local industries by giving them direct access to credit and providing a market for their produce.”

By Ekow Quandzie