Spare parts dealers to demonstrate over high import charges

• Posted on September 19, 2018
• by Ellsamwise King
• Comment

A group calling itself National Concerned Spare Parts Dealers Association, has served notice to embark on a peaceful demonstration in Accra on Friday, September 21, 2018, to protest what they call increased taxes and other import levies affecting their business.

“This has become necessary due to government incentive increase of taxes and other import charges which has overburdened our members. We wish to reiterate our commitment towards peaceful demonstration,” the group said in a letter to the Police and sighted.

The letter was signed by the Chairman of the Association, Kwabena Agyei and Public Relations Officer, Takyi Addo.

Government scrapped the special import levy in 2017 to bring some relief to Spare Parts dealers in Ghana.

However, the excitement was short-lived as spare parts dealers seemed to be facing other challenges with some charges billed them, especially the benchmark value charge.

According to the dealers, the one percent special import levy which was scrapped has brought no relief to them since the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has introduced a new benchmark value system at the ports.

They insist that the continuous imposition of the benchmark value charges has partly made it difficult for them to reduce their prices despite the tax cuts.

They also claim that the development has left them profitless.

GRA rejects spare parts dealers’ high tax claims

But the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has rejected claims the charging of benchmark value on spare parts is to blame for the gradual rise in the prices of the goods.

The GRA explained that the tax has since 2015 been cancelled with the implementation of the single window platform.

Spare parts dealers, particularly those I  Abossey Okai in Accra, were very loud in their support for the NPP government as they complained of hardship in the era of the previous regime.

There were reports they even donated monies to Nana Addo’s campaign for the 2016 election, and at one point, they hooted at then-President Mahama when he toured the area.