Ahalji Naziru Member of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) Communications team has said that for the first time since the 1983 drought Ghanaians are going to have a feel of it again due to the high taxes and duties that importers continue to pay at the port.
According to him, Ghana is going to celebrate this years’ Ramadan (Sallah festival) without the comestible food which is rice.
“Under President Nana Akufo Addo, Ghanaians are going to celebrate Sallah without the edible and staple food which is rice. We are surprise that under a government that says it’s helping to improve the standard of living of Ghanaians to improve the economy and trade, for the first time in the history of Ghana since 1983 we are going to celebrate sallah without rice because of there is total shortage of rice in our markets,” Naziru told Happy FM‘s Epa Hoa Daben show.
He also added that instability of the cedi is the main factor that hinders the importers for the importation of rice into the country.
“I know that due to the high taxes and duties that importers continue to pay at our port. It is also as a result of the instability of the cedi they couldn’t control and cannot do anything about it and its escalating and galloping against the major trading currency that is the dollar, which is causing a serious hardship to the importers and Ghanaians.”
As at May 7, the cedi was trading at 4 cedis, 41 pesewas but by June 7 it had depreciated by 0.7 percent to 4 cedis, 44 pesewas.
The Central Bank has already assured that the changes in the exchange rate is temporary, hence will soon see some stability.
By: Joseph Nii Ankrah.
