Importers want tax reduction on frozen poultry products

Concerned Ghanaian Poultry Product Importers, on Thursday called on the Government to reduce taxes on imported frozen poultry products to avoid  automatic increases in the cost of the products.

Mr Charles Essien, spokesperson of the group, speaking at a press conference in Accra, said taxes imposed on imported poultry products should be moderate since the incidence of taxation was automatically transferred to the final consumer, worsening the plight of low income earners, who form the majority of the Ghanaian population.

He asked Ghanaians to import goods, which could satisfy the taste and meet the pockets of the people in line with modern trend of global trade and the tenets of social justice.

Mr Essien said: “The country’s population is growing at a faster pace and the nutritional needs of the citizenry are increasing. Unfortunately, the local poultry farmers are unable to meet demands while the sea and other water bodies contain low fish stock, therefore, frozen imported poultry product to augment the nutritional needs of the people on the market.’’

He noted that the maintenance of correct temperature in containers, which needed to be clarified in the clearing process, and re-examination of containers, altered the taste of poultry products and increased the probability of food poisoning.

Mr Essien said that by the highly perishable nature of imported poultry products, they require prompt but special attention and   called on importers of frozen poultry products to come together to form an association to promote their interest.

Source: GNA