Erskine White
CELEBRATED YFM Ghana radio presenter, Erskine White, has announced plans to stage a demonstration against government over high import duties at the country’s ports.
He made this known in a post on X, saying the demonstration is intended to raise awareness and push government to address the situation.
“I’d like to organise the demonstration to voice our displeasure against the current import duties to the government. Where do I start from? Someone guide me please,” the post read.
Many of his followers under the post have urged him to start an online petition, assemble a team, push a hashtag, notify the relevant authorities and embark on a peaceful demonstration.
The planned demonstration comes amid growing public complaints over the high cost of clearing goods at Ghana’s ports. Importers, freight forwarders and vehicle dealers have in recent months decried increased duties, taxes and exchange rate calculations, which they say have nearly doubled the cost of doing business.
Despite the introduction of paperless systems and benchmark value discounts by previous administrations, many traders say clearing charges remain exorbitant, forcing some to divert cargo to neighbouring Togo and Benin ports.
The Ghana Union of Traders’ Associations (GUTA) and the Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana have repeatedly called on government to review the duties to ease the burden on businesses and consumers.
BY Prince Fiifi Yorke