Speaker gives KT Hammond the green light to lay off L. I on import restrictions

According to Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin, Trade Minister KT Hammond can introduce the government’s L.I. on Thursday, which intends to restrict the admission of particular goods.

The Minority objected to the plans to lay it on Tuesday once more, stating the same reasons that the L.I. is against the interests of businesspeople and Ghanaians in general. They had added that corruption would grow from it.

But the Speaker made it quite plain that, by the constitution, no one can prevent the L.I. from being laid if it passes the constitutional test.

The Speaker has therefore requested that KT Hammond meet with the Subsidiary Legislation Committee once more to finalize the details of the instrument that will be laid on Thursday.

After pre-laying talks with the House Caucus, KT Hammond was optimistic that he could lay the LI today. However, his optimism was short-lived as the Minority strongly opposed the action.

The Minority had demanded that their concerns be taken seriously because several business groups had petitioned Parliament to reject the LI.

Additionally, the Minority contended that the LI was risky and would negatively impact a number of the nation’s enterprises.

Ibrahim Ahmed, the chief whip for the minority, for example, suggested that the government go cautiously with the LI, while Haruna Iddrisu, the former leader of the minority, expressed concern that the impacted nations might take punitive action against Ghana.

“Mr. Speaker, the matter is a very serious one that hinges on the survival of businesses in this country. Mr. Speaker, we are not just objecting, and care should be taken. Let’s reflect on the serious issues that have been raised on this floor, and the minority has raised objections. Which of them didn’t go back to come and fight for this country? And this is one of them” Ahmed Ibrahim, said.

“Mr. Speaker, just yesterday, six associations—Ghana Union of Traders’ Associations (GUTA), Food and Beverages Association of Ghana (FABAG), Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana, Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders (GIFF), Chamber of Automobile Dealership Ghana (CADEG), and Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GNCCI)—wrote a petition, having confidence in members of this house, that we should take that petition into consideration” he added.

KT Hammond, the sector minister, attempted to allay the Minority’s concerns by stating that the majority of their issues had been included in a revised draft policy document. Nevertheless, Speaker of the House Alban Bagbin continued to postpone the bill’s laying until Thursday, November 30, 2023.