Benchmark suspension: Importers and Exporters unsatisfied with consultation deadline

Benchmark suspension: Importers and Exporters unsatisfied with consultation deadline

The Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA), has welcomed the announcement by the government for the suspension of the implementation of the benchmarks policy reversal directive to allow for broader consultations but the Ghana Association of Importers and Exporters are unsatisfied with the deadline date for the consultation.

GUTA, which is a representative of Traders’ Associations in Ghana, said many of its members are excited about the news.

President of GUTA, Dr. Joseph Obeng told Ashh news reporter Barbara Koranteng that the livelihoods of its members largely depend on this policy, and that the new government position will go a long way to protect their sources of income.

“If you see the happiness that greeted this, it means that people’s livelihoods actually depends on the maintenance of this benchmark policy rather than the reversal so we thank government for listening to our pleas,” he said.

Dr. Obeng further expressed optimism about the wider consultations expected to take place on the reversal of benchmark values on various products at the ports.

But the implementation of the policy was fraught with many challenges leading to calls by stakeholders including GUTA and the Ghana Importers and Exporters Association for its suspension.

It’s Executive Secretary, Sampson Asaki Awingobit speaking with Ashh FM’s news reporter, Barbara Koranteng said, “I am looking forward to hearing the President actually suspending the programme and allowing for wider consultations…. The January 17 deadline is too short a time for this to be done.”

“We think that it is not the right time. Look at the economic situation of ordinary Ghanaians, their financial status viz-a-viz they say the government is the largest employer. I strongly believe that it is not the right time looking at the cost of living in the country now,” he stated.