David Adikah, former Executive Member for the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) says the prices of goods will fall if the general overdependence on imported goods is reduced.
This statement comes after the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) issued a notice cautioning that Ghanaians may buy Christmas goods at much higher prices in December this year.
According to GUTA, goods including food items like cooking oil, rice, sugar, second-hand clothing, and frozen foods, as well as non-food items like Christmas trees, ribbons, and balloons for decorations, are mostly imported by members of GUTA.
“If the government does not address the depreciation of the cedi immediately, Ghanaians would buy their Christmas goods at expensive prices,” GUTA President, Dr. Joseph Obeng, said at a press conference.
Speaking to the issue in an interview with host of Atinka FM’s AM Drive Kaakyire Ofori Ayim, David Adikah said the over dependence on imported goods has overshadowed the local made products in Ghana.
According to David Adikah, Ghana produces quality rice, vegetable oil, among others, which are readily available on the market.
He attributed the low patronage of made in Ghana products to the over-reliance on imported goods.
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“There are quality rice on the Ghanaian market which are produced right here in Ghana. The issue is that our markets are saturated with cheap imported brands making it hard for the public to purchase the local ones. The local rice in Ghana is mostly exported to Nigeria. There is no issue of security in Ghana. Prices of goods will fall if locally made ones are patronized,” David Adikah told Kaakyire Ofori Ayim.
President Akufo-Addo in an address to the nation on the state of the economy on Sunday October 30th 2021 revealed that government will by May 2023 review the standards required for imports into the country.
“Products such as rice, poultry, vegetable oil, toothpicks, pasta, fruit juice, bottled water and ceramic tiles, and others which, with intensified government support and that of the banking sector, can be manufactured and produced in sufficient quantities in Ghana. Government will, in May 2023, that is six months from now, review the situation,” he said.
Akufo Addo also urged the general public to as a matter of urgent national security, reduce our dependence on imported goods, and enhance our self-reliance, as demanded by our overarching goal of creating a Ghana Beyond Aid.
Ghana | Atinkaonline.com | Vivian Adu