A pressure group calling itself “National Concerned Spare Parts Dealers Association”, has hinted of a possible call off proposed demonstration because a Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Carlos Ahenkorah on Wednesday, acknowledged their complaint and has promised to address their issues soon.
Public Relations Officer Takyi Addo said the possibility of calling off the protest will partly be the intervention of the deputy minister as well as the celebration of Founder’s Day on Friday.
Earlier the group informed the Ghana police on an inpending a peaceful demonstration in Accra, on Friday, September 21, 2018.
A letter jointly signed by the its Chairman, Kwabena Agyei and Public Relations Officer Takyi Addo, respectively, said the demonstration was necessary due to government’s increased in taxes and other import charges which have overburdened their members.
In an interview with Ibrahim Kwarteng on “Radio Ghana’s Current Affairs Programme, “BEHIND THE NEWS”, the PRO for the Association explained that the depreciation of the cedi is likely to affect their business so they need to act fast.
Stating that: “We are deciding to embark on the demonstration because “Nana Akufo-Addo, the President understands demonstration because when we go to the history of Ghana he is the one who has demonstrated a lot in this country, so clearly he understands the meaning of demonstration”
In June 2017, government passed the bill to scrap of the 1% import levy to bring some relief to the spare parts dealers.
However, this has not relieved the dealers since the benchmark levy which was scrapped has been replaced with a new benchmark system at the ports by the Ghana Revenue Authority.
Parliament approved four amendment Bills to scrap taxes as proposed in the 2017 budget which included the Special Import Amendment Bill and others.
By: Nhyira Kwabi
