Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen
MINISTER OF Trade and Industry, Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, has disclosed that Ghana spent an estimated total of GH¢6.874 billion on the importation of rice from 2017 to 2020.
According to him, even though there was a ban in place, Ghana needed to make a delicate balance between importation of rice and local rice production to meet the consumption needs of Ghanaians.
Answering questions on the floor of Parliament Wednesday, the Trade Minister said additionally, the nation also imported GH¢3.993 billion of fish, GH¢1.881 billion of chicken (processed), GH¢487 million of meat, GH¢281 million of vegetables, GH¢184 million of poultry (birds).
Mr. Kyerematen stated that the Ministry received in April 2017 and August 2017 a total amount of GH¢225,075.00 from two companies for bagged cement imported into the country, pointing out that the Ministry had not levied or received any fee on Portland cement imported into the country since August 2017.
“Mr. Speaker, this year, the Ministry has submitted through the Ministry of Finance, proposals for consideration and approval to amend the Fees and Charges (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act in respect of fees for imported bulk and bagged cement,” he added.
He noted that the Export and Import (Restrictions on Importation of Portland Cement) Regulations, L.I. 2240 became effective 28 June, 2016, and that the L.I. makes provision for the levying of fees for import licenses for Portland cement.
On industrialisation, he said to date, there were 278 1DI1F projects at various stages of implementation and that out of that number, 106 companies were currently in operation, 148 under construction and 24 were at the mobilisation stage under the 1DIF initiative.
“Mr. Speaker, 165 out of the 278 companies are new projects, representing 60%, whilst 113 are existing companies, representing 40%.
“The 106 companies that are currently operational have created a total of 153,782 direct and indirect jobs, up from 139,331 in December 2020.
“Mr. Speaker, it is expected that when the additional 148 1DI1F projects currently under construction are completed, the cumulative number of direct and indirect jobs created will increase to 288,599,” he disclosed.
BY Ernest Kofi Adu, Parliament House