Former President John Dramani Mahama says he will review the law banning the importation of salvage vehicle, also known as accident cars into the country if voted into power in the December 2020 elections.
Speaking at the launch of the Manifesto of the National Democratic Congress(NDC) at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), Mr. Mahama also hinted that he will scrap the proposed increment in the import duty for such vehicles.
“We will review the Customs Amendment Act 2020 (Act 1014) to scrap the law banning the importation of salvage vehicles and the proposed implementation of a 35 per cent import duty rate,” he said, explaining that the move is aimed at protecting the large number of people who operate in the business of importing spare parts.
He argued that there is the pressing need to protect the thousands of spare part dealers in areas like Abossey Okai and Kokompe.
Mr. Mahama stressed that government must first protect local businesses “to safeguard the local automobile industry in Suame Magazine, Abossey Okai, and Komkompe”
He maintained that this will help operators in such areas to continue to work to earn a decent living income.
Background
The Customs Amendment Act 2020 which the law banning the importation of salvage vehicles among other things, provides incentives for automobile manufacturers and assemblers registered under the Ghana Automotive Manufacturers Programme and prohibits the importation of salvaged cars and vehicles over ten years of age into the country.
The law passed by Parliament in March 2020 and is expected to be rolled out in November same year.
