Importers of toffees and biscuits appeal for reduction in import duties

Toffees and Biscuit Importers Association of Ghana, on Monday appealed to the Government to reduce import duties on confectionaries, to enable them to clear their goods from the port.

Mr Charles Gyan, Spokesperson of the Association, who made the appeal at a press conference in Accra, said import duties on confectionaries had been increased by 150 per cent.

He said the traders were being asked to pay between 15,000 and 30,000 Ghana cedis on a 40-footer container of imported confectionaries instead of 6,000 and 8,000 Ghana cedis being paid until December 1, 2011.

“Import duties on imported confectionaries should be moderate since the high tariffs are automatically transferred to the final consumer, worsening the plight of low income earners, who form the majority of the Ghanaian population,” he said.

Mr Gyan called on President John Evans Atta Mills to schedule a meeting with the association, clearing agents and inspecting companies.

This is to them to deliberate on the inconveniences caused by the recent increases in import duties and how to amicably deal with the situation to avoid automatic increases in the cost of confectionaries.

Mrs Elizabeth Amoako, Assistant Organiser of the Association, said: “We borrowed money from the banks to import these confectionaries, which we would have to pay within a very short time with interest, these toffees and biscuits have a very short expiry period and therefore needed to be sold out quickly.

“If after a week the responsible authorities do not respond to our plea, we would be forced to clear the goods and without any option increase the cost of confectionaries to the final consumer”.

Source: GNA