The degree of Ghana’s dependence on imported goods has been called shameful by the minister-designate for trade and industry, KT Hammond.
At his appearance before the appointments committee, the Adanso Asokwa MP reaffirmed a report from a cabinet committee that stated Ghana imports the internal organs of cows and other ruminants for more than 160 million dollars annually.
If granted the go-ahead, he promised to make measures to address the problem.
“Why is it that everything you can think about is being imported into the country? These importations have terrible effects on our foreign exchange reserves. I think it’s about time we took a serious look at this particular issue. I’m told a committee was put up by cabinet to deal specifically with this matter”.
“When I looked at some of the issues that have been raised, I was scandalised. I’m told it’s being decided at that level [cabinet] that we should be looking at about 50 specific areas. I’m scandalised at what appears to be in paragraph 4, is that what we are importing to Ghana? We are importing guts, bladders, stomachs of animals to Ghana to complement our foods.
And that alone totaled about one hundred and sixty-four million, five hundred and seventy-five thousand plus some hundreds of dollars[the year under review]. I thought this is a little bit of a scandal. It’s not only this but this is what I find scandalising”.
However, certain minority members of the committee, including Mahama Ayariga and Governor Kwame Agbodza, requested KT Hammond take the committee seriously and found KT Hammond’s attempt to be at his cheerful best offensive.
If the Adansi Asokwa MP passes the screening, he will take the place of Alan Kyeremateng.
