illegal imports crippling local industries – AGI warns
By Praisebell Rosemond Larbi
The Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) has called on the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and other border security agencies to tighten enforcement against the growing menace of illegal imports, warning that the practice is undermining Ghana’s industrialisation drive.
Chief Executive Officer of AGI, Seth Twum-Akwaboah, cautioned that the unchecked influx of unapproved goods into the Ghanaian market is crippling local industries, distorting fair competition and threatening the survival of legitimate businesses that comply with tax and regulatory requirements.
Speaking at Prudential Bank’s special customer seminar on the appreciation of the cedi, Mr Twum-Akwaboah explained that smugglers and traders who bypass official trade channels deprive the state of revenue and erode investor confidence in Ghana’s business environment.
“Illegal imports undermine the competitiveness of local industries, discourage investment and ultimately derail our drive towards industrialisation,” he said.
Mr Twum-Akwaboah stressed that the issue is not only about revenue losses but also about safeguarding jobs and sustaining the government’s broader economic agenda.
The AGI boss argued that Ghana cannot hope to expand its manufacturing base or improve export competitiveness if local producers remain exposed to unfair practices that allow substandard or untaxed products to dominate the domestic market.
According to him, stricter border enforcement and improved coordination among security agencies are critical to closing the gaps exploited by smugglers.
He urged the GRA, the Customs Division, the Immigration Service and other relevant institutions to step up vigilance and impose tougher penalties to deter offenders.
Mr Twum-Akwaboah also noted that illegal imports rob the government of much-needed tax revenues, which could otherwise be channelled into infrastructure development and industrial support programmes.
“Protecting local industries is not merely about the survival of businesses; it is about safeguarding the economy as a whole,” he added.
The AGI has, over the years, been at the forefront of advocacy for stronger trade enforcement measures.
The association maintains that building a competitive industrial sector requires deliberate policies that shield local producers from unfair trade while encouraging efficiency and innovation.
At the seminar, which brought together key stakeholders from the business and financial sectors, participants examined the gains made in stabilising the cedi and discussed broader challenges facing the private sector.
The issue of illegal imports featured prominently, with calls for a coordinated response to ensure that Ghana’s industrial agenda is not derailed.
The AGI reiterated its commitment to working with government and private sector partners to promote sustainable industrial growth, stressing that the long-term health of the economy depends on protecting local enterprise from external and illicit threats.
