It has emerged that Ghana charges the highest amount of levies on imported goods within the Sub-Saharan region.

Speaking to Citi FM, President of the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA), Joseph Kwaku Obeng noted this has led to many traders or businessmen travel to neighbouring West African countries to purchase imported goods because it’s cheaper than importing to Ghana.

“We have compared the charges we pay to other Sub Saharan West African, Ghana has the highest import levy charges. This makes the cost of doing business relatively high. That is why you see most of the Ghanaian traders, going to Togo and Nigeria to do business. They are not even going to buy made in Togo or Nigerian goods; they are going to buy imported goods,” he said.

The latest development led President Akufo-Addo to meet with the Council of State to discuss the concerns of the exporters and the business community.

GUTA is hoping that the meeting will lead to an eventual downward review of duties paid at Ghana’s port.

At a meeting with the President, the Chairman of the Council, Nana Otuo Serebuo II, said its meeting with the importers and exporters revealed a growing discontent over what they call exorbitant taxes at the country’s ports hence the need to bring it to the attention of the President.