The General Agricultural Workers Union (GAWU) of the Ghana Trade Union Congress (TUC) has disclosed that the Union was in no way attacking the benchmark policy in totality but focused on some sectors which weren’t favourable to the agricultural sector thus needed review.
This was made known at a media briefing organised by GAWU in collaboration with the Food and Allied Workers’ Union (FAWU) to address the country and government on their position on the debate raised over the benchmark policy.
According to the Secretary of GAWU, Mr. Edward T. Kareweh, “The Union was against a benchmark policy that made imports of crop produce and goods cheaper than locally manufactured goods.
In referring to the production of salt, Mr. Kareweh mentioned that, “If Ghana was not producing salt, but rather imported it, there is the need for the benchmark policy to help make salt affordable to all, but on the contrary, Ghana produces salt in large quantities, so why the benchmark on salt?”
“Such a policy would destroy the local salt industry while enhancing salt import,” he added.
GAWU and FAWU emphasised that the two associations would collectively fight for the interest of local food producers in the country until the benchmark policy is reviewed or suspended.
On FAWU, Mr. Kenneth Koomson, Secretary of FAWU disclosed that over 24,000 jobs would collapse if the benchmark value on some selected items is not removed.
“Currently, there are four main oil palm plantations which directly employs over 24,000 workers, and these jobs stand to disappear if the benchmark value policy is not reversed,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Executive Secretary of the Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana, Mr. Samson Asaki Awingobit, in a statement, said, “Even though we continue to grapple with exorbitant import levies and charges on our cargoes at the ports, the government must review it downwards.”
“We believe that the suspension of the implementation of the reversed 50 per cent benchmark value on selected items is a welcoming news to us, the business community,” he further stated.
In the statement, Mr. Awingobit highlighted that the government should involve all stakeholders in the various industries to discuss its policy formulation.
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