“We have compared the charges we pay to other Sub Saharan West African, Ghana has the highest import levy charges. This makes the cost of doing business relatively high. That is why you see most of the Ghanaian traders, going to Togo and Nigeria to do business. They are not even going to buy made in Togo or Nigerian goods; they are going to buy imported goods,” he said.

This he said has a major negative effect on the Ghanaian currency and economy of the country as a whole.

Yesterday [Thursday], the Council of State took up concerns of importers and exporters to President Nana Akufo-Addo in the hope of getting a downward review of the duties they pay at the country’s ports.

The Trade Union members, Ghana Union of Traders Associations (GUTA) and other related parties petitioned the Council of State to intervene and help save them from the exorbitant charges.

At a meeting with the President, the Chairman of the Council, Nana Otuo Serebuo II, said its meeting with the importers and exporters revealed a growing discontent over what they call exorbitant taxes at the country’s ports hence the need to bring it to the attention of the President.

The council had also held discussions with a number of stakeholders including the Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta; Trade and Industry Minister, Alan Kyerematen; the Commissioner of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Isaac Crentsil and leadership of GUTA with the view of finding a lasting solution to the problem