The Minority Caucus of parliament on Friday, November 24, 2023, managed to stop the government from laying a legislative instrument (L.I.) to restrict the importation of 22 selected strategic products into Ghana.

This was after a heated exchange between the minority and the Minister of Trade and Industry, Kobina Tahir Hammond, who was seeking to lay the L.I. on behalf of the government.

The minority caucus Members of Parliament (MPs) after making arguments about the house not forming the quorum needed for the L.I. to be considered, said that the L.I. cannot be passed because if the import of the 22 goods is restricted, Ghanaians are going to suffer because the country does not have the capacity to produce them.

The trade minister was, however, adamant, insisting that the restriction of the said items would boost local production.

Below is the list of items whose import the government wants to restrict:

FIRST SCHEDULE (regulations 1(a), 2 and 20)

LIST OF SELECTED STRATEGIC PRODUCTS

1. Rice

2. Guts, bladders and stomach of animals

3. Poultry

4. Animal and Vegetable Oil

5. Margarine

6. Fruit Juices

7. Soft Drink

8. Mineral Water

9. Noodles and Pasta

10. Ceramic Tiles

11. Corrugated Paper and Paper Board

12. Mosquito Coil and Insecticides

13. Soaps and Detergents

14. Motor Cars

15. Iron and Steel

16. Cement

17. Polymers (Plastics and Plastic Products)

18. Fish

19. Sugar

20. Clothing and Apparel

21. Biscuits

22. Canned Tomatoes

BAI/AE

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