The government is expected to present a Constitutional Instrument (C.I.) to Parliament on Tuesday, November 21, 2023.
The C.I. is seeking to restrict the importation of over 20 strategic products such as rice, diapers, and offal (locally known as ‘yemuadie’) into the country.
During a press briefing in Parliament, the Minister of Trade and Industry, K.T Hammond, said this move is part of efforts to boost local production.
“Stomach of animals, bladder and the chunk of intestines (yemuadie), the country had to put in an amount of about $164 million towards the importation of these items. We are taking steps to ensure that in terms of rice, there’s no poverty of rice in the country,” the minister said.
Defending the move, he said, “By these restrictions, we are not going to ensure that there’s no food in the country at all; that is not the point at all”.
He said there have to be some efforts by the government to ensure that Ghana goes back to Acheampong’s “operation feed yourself”.
Mr Hammond also announced the introduction of the Ghana Standards Authority Regulations 2023.
An initiative that aims to streamline the manufacturing of cement, fostering competitive pricing within the industry.