The Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) is fuming with rage as government implements the Fumigation Levy on Imports and Exports which took effect from Thursday, March 1, 2018, in addition to the Tax Stamp. The President of GUTA, Mr. Joseph Obeng is surprised some uncaring and “selfish” individuals would push through the Fumigation Levy when “it is not even clear to us where this Levy is coming from. The Ghana Shippers Authority have even told us that they do not know anything about this Fumigation Tax”. Government through the Finance Ministry has started implementing two new tax policies – the Excise Tax Stamp and the Harmonised ECOWAS Common External Tariff (CET) – in addition to the Fumigation Levy, which is meant to disinfect cargo containers and their contents. Speaking on Onua FM’s afternoon political talk show, “Ghana Dadwane”, the GUTA President described the Fumigation Levy as scandalous. “What they have introduced is unheard of and scandalous, and so we want the government to come in to investigate the matter. They should not let this slide for anybody to think that they can just introduce anything in this country to hoodwink the people”, he told Nana Yaw Opare, host of the show. He claimed a Turkish company has been sole sourced to provide the fumigation service for the next 25 years, which he said is not fair because there are many companies in Ghana that can provide that service and create jobs for Ghanaians. Mr. Obeng urged the President to suspend the Fumigation Levy, asking, “What at all are they seeking to achieve with this thing, they should tell us if it is because they want to steal?” By Salifu B.B. Moro/Onua 95.1FM/3News.com]]>
