The Automobile Dealers Union of Ghana has asked former President John Mahama not to pull the plug on his promise to repeal the law prohibiting the import of salvaged vehicles into the country.
During a manifesto launch on Monday, the flagbearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), announced that he will scrap the law in question should he be given the nod on December 7.
Mr Mahama explained that withdrawing this law will bring relief to persons who depend on that sector of the economy. Meanwhile, Secretary of the Automobile Dealers Union of Ghana, Clifford Ansong, lauded the move and asked the former President to keep his word and not disappoint the union should he win the elections.
“It is a manifesto promise anyway and we are happy about it. If it happens that he wins, he will definitely do what is in the manifesto. Even though sometimes not everything in the manifesto is implemented, I think this particular issue is a very serious one which he will do for us. Voting is a personal discretion but if you think that your business is being collapsed by a certain government and another is in waiting asking you to give him the nod to help you sustain the business and you don’t give him the nod, then I don’t know where you want your business to be,” he said.
Among other things, the Customs Amendment Act 2020, provides incentives for automobile manufacturers and assemblers who are registered under the Ghana Automotive Manufacturers Programme and prohibits the importation of salvaged vehicles and cars over ten years into the car.
The law which was passed by Parliament in earlier in March this year is expected to take effect from November this year.
The association have fiercely opposed the law arguing that it will lead to job losses in the automotive sector. Automotive dealers have raised concerns over the ban on several occasions describing it as an unfortunate decision by the government.
I’m Deborah Aba Narkoah. I’m an avid reader, writer and public speaker.