The Executive Secretary of the Ghana International Trade Commission (GITC), Mr Frank Agyekum, said the Commission is ready to protect local businesses from unfair trade practices.

His comment follow a petition brought before the Commission against some Chinese importers by aluminium smelter Aluworks.

He said : “In terms of aluminium, it’s only Aluworks; we also have other petitioners that have come from the Cement Manufacturers Association of Ghana, Biscuit Manufacturers Association of Ghana, the Steel Manufacturers Association of Ghana and a few others; this, is the first one we are tackling and like I said, even though they have made a petition, we have to go back and investigate, delve into the issues, talk to people, visit industry to find out the truth,” said Mr Agyekum at the hearing on, Thursday, 9 January 2020.

He noted that: “We all want quality products at reasonable prices. At the same time, we want to make sure quality products that come in are not undercutting our businesses in terms of unfair trade. The issue here is unfair trade and we don’t want to see that it is a painstaking investigation that is going on.”

Mr Kwasi Okoh, the Managing Director of Aluworks Limited, also bemoaned how the unbridled aluminium imports from China are threatening his outfit’s operations.

“The Chinese are bringing from their country, bypassing and going with the customer. China, in 2007, tried to bring metal to Ghana because demand fell around the world. They decided to do business with emerging countries including Ghana and West Africa. Their unfair business practices are affecting our business.”

Companies such as Unilever, among others, have consistently expressed concern about the unbridled and unfair trade competition.

Meanwhile the GITC has given the firm assurance of a fair ruling regarding the petition.