A group of workers and business owners in the country will embark on a demonstration on March 4, to protest what they describe as issues negatively affecting the business climate in the country.
[contextly_sidebar id=”zghXjgEisDJreRTD3OIkbKsEeWLKOCCk”]The group is made up of the Ghana Union of Traders (GUTA), the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders, the Ghana Automobile Dealers Association, Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana, Ghana Pharmaceutical Association and Custom Brokers Association.
Speaking at press conference held in Accra on Wednesday, the group outlined a number of factors which they say is forcing many businesses in the country to collapse.
According to Citi News’ Sammy Wiafe, who was at their press conference on Wednesday, said the various increases in taxes including “the increment VAT from 12.5% to 17.5%, 17.5% financial service levy, 2% special levy on imports and 1% levy on imports by the destination inspection companies, the conformity assessment programme which has also increased the fees in some cases to about 1000%,” are killing their businesses.
“They also talked about the 20% they have to pay to the foods and drugs authority for site inspection as well as the power crisis. The increase in interest rate among others,” he added.
The group insisted that all shops under them will not operate on the day set for the demonstration.
They further stated that if their grievances are not addressed after the demonstration, they will declare a one week strike.
GUTA has on several occasions bemoaned the effect of the Ghana conformity assessment program (G-CAP) saying it will add to the increasing cost of doing business in the country.
G-CAP is a conformity assessment process used to verify that products imported into Ghana meet the necessary standards at the manufacturing country of origin.
The Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) has also urged government to put in place pragmatic measures to solve the power crisis in the country.
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By: Godwin Allotey Akweiteh/citifmonline.com/Ghana