flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has pledged to abolish the proposed mandatory Pre-shipment Verification and Inspection policy for imported used vehicles if he wins the 2028 presidential election.
The pledge, disclosed by the Ranking Member on Parliament’s Trade, Industry and Tourism Committee, Michael Okyere Baafi, follows an engagement between the NPP flagbearer and the Ghana Union of Traders’ Associations (GUTA).
The proposed policy, which has been suspended following opposition from sections of the business community, sought to introduce an importation certificate fee of approximately US$300 for every used vehicle imported into Ghana.
Although the measure was intended to form part of the regulatory requirements for vehicle imports, critics have questioned its necessity and warned that the additional charge could increase the cost of importing vehicles, with the burden ultimately falling on consumers.
According to Okyere Baafi, Dr Bawumia has assured traders that an NPP government would scrap the policy entirely rather than merely suspend its implementation.
He argued that the suspension does not amount to a permanent cancellation and that the policy could be reintroduced unless a future government formally abandons it.
“After the Minority’s pressure on them, they suspended the policy. The suspension means that they will likely reintroduce the policy,” Okyere Baafi said.
He added that Dr Bawumia had met GUTA representatives over the preceding three days and assured them that the policy would not return if the NPP won the 2028 elections.
“The good news is that Dr Bawumia met the GUTA people over the last three days and told them that he will scrap the policy outright when he wins the elections in 2028. The policy will not come back when the NPP assumes office,” he stated.
FEARS OF HIGHER VEHICLE PRICES
Okyere Baafi’s principal objection to the proposed inspection regime is its potential impact on vehicle importers, traders and ordinary Ghanaians who depend on imported used vehicles.
He argued that importers already face import duties and other associated charges, warning that an additional US$300 certificate fee could compound their financial burden.
“Where are they going to get money to even pay import duties when they come?” he questioned.
He maintained that the extra cost would likely be passed on to consumers through higher vehicle prices, making imported cars more expensive for individuals and businesses.
“The final consumer is now going to suffer because all this cost will be transferred to the consumer when you buy the car, and that is the problem we are raising,” he said.
The concerns highlight the wider debate over the cost of doing business in Ghana, particularly for traders who rely on imported goods and already contend with multiple taxes, levies and regulatory charges.
TRADE POLICY BECOMES AN ELECTION ISSUE
Dr Bawumia’s reported assurance places the proposed vehicle inspection policy among the trade and business issues likely to feature in the debate ahead of the 2028 general elections.
For GUTA and other stakeholders in the vehicle importation business, the commitment offers a promise of relief from a proposed charge they consider an additional cost of doing business.
However, the policy debate also raises questions about the government’s objectives in introducing mandatory pre-shipment verification and whether those objectives could be achieved without imposing additional costs on importers and consumers.
The proposed policy remains suspended, according to the account provided by Okyere Baafi. Its future will therefore depend on subsequent Ok decisions and the policy commitments of political parties contesting the next general elections.
