The Oil Palm Development Association of Ghana has appealed to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to exempt importers cooking oil and other related products from the reduction of fifty percent benchmark value on all imports.
The impact of the new import tariff policy is adversely affecting the local Palm Oil industry.
The Association President, Samuel Avaala made this known at the Jubilee House when they met with the President.
He noted that nation losses three million dollars a month through under invoicing of palm oil and called for restriction of such products to one port on entry.
The Oil Paim Development Association of Ghana is a non-governmental association with the objective of promoting sustainable production, value addition and trading of oil palm and oil palm related products.
Its represents the interests of thousands of smallholder, out-grower farmers, nucleus estate plantations, millers, local refiners, manufacturers of soaps and other consumer goads.
In Ghana, the oil palm value chain is estimated to employ 300 thousand direct jobs and over two million indirect jobs.
Mr. Avaala noted that prior to the passing of the 50 percent Benchmark Policy, the Association together with the Ministry of Food & Agriculture and the Customs Division of Ghana Revenue Authority were fighting the pratice of undeclared invoicing on vegetable oil imports.
This policy he said legitimized the practice, hence the flooding of cheaper and substandard vegetable oils onto the Ghanaian market.
He said the local refineries and manufacturing industries are no longer viable to operate.
President Akufo-Addo assured them that, his government will address the challenges facing the sector.
The Minister for Agriculture, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto Afriyie and the Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry, Ahomka Lindsey, who were present at the meeting addressed some the issues brought up Association.
Story filed by Bright Ntramah
