In a move designed to ramp up its local automotive manufacturing industry, Ghana is set to implement a bill that will prohibit the importation of salvaged motor vehicles that have been involved in an accident or otherwise damaged – as well as motor vehicles over 10 years old.
It will also increase the import duty on specific motor vehicles – but provide import duty exemptions for security agencies and officers of these agencies, especially those who go on various peace-keeping assignments in the security interests of Ghana.
“Left to me, I would love a total ban so that there will be pressure on us to act and deploy all arsenals so that production may be tripled and everybody in Ghana may begin to drive a brand new car. But given where we are coming from, that may be difficult at the moment, but at least that should be the direction of the nation,” said Nana Marfo Amaniampong of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Trade, Industry and Tourism.
The bill will provide incentives for automotive manufacturers and assemblers registered under the Ghana Automotive Manufacturing Development Programme (GAMDP) and will come into effect on October 30.