The General Agricultural Workers Union (GAWU) has lauded the government’s decision to waive import duties on agro-processing machinery, a move aimed at boosting value addition in agriculture and attracting investment into the sector.
The policy was announced by President John Dramani Mahama on Monday, July 28, during the National Agribusiness Dialogue in Accra.
GAWU General Secretary, Andrews Addoquaye Tagoe, praised the initiative, describing it as a response to years of advocacy by the union and other stakeholders.
“Someone is clearly listening,” Tagoe told Citi Business News. “We’ve raised these issues repeatedly. Hearing the President today, it’s clear many of our concerns are finally being addressed.”
Tagoe questioned why a country heavily reliant on agriculture would burden stakeholders with high import duties on equipment critical to boosting productivity.
He, however, urged relevant institutions to ensure swift and effective implementation, stressing that delays and bureaucratic hurdles have often undermined similar policies in the past.
“Accessing these waivers is sometimes so difficult that you end up paying more at the port,” he noted. “Authorities must simplify the process or the full benefits won’t be realized.”
