The Minister of Trade and Industry, K. T. Hammond, is expected to lay before Parliament today an improved version of the Legislative Instrument (L.I) on the Export and Import (Restrictions on Importation of Selected Strategic Product) Regulations, 2023, after it was blocked last week over the lack of quorum and consultation.
The L.I. will compel importers of 22 restricted items, including poultry, rice, sugar, diapers, and animal intestines (yemuadie) to seek licenses from a committee to be set up by the minister.
The Minority in Parliament has, on three occasions, resisted the laying of the L.I on the ground that it was not only dangerous but violated international trade practices and could give too much power to the minister, a situation which has the propensity to breed corruption.
In order to seek broader consultation and have the buy-in of industry players, the leadership of the House led by the Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, and the Majority Chief Whip, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, called for “backdoor” discussions after heated arguments on the L.I from both sides of the House last Friday.
Even before the laying today, both sides of the House agreed last Friday to sit on weekends to be able to meet the 21-day requirement for it to mature before the House rises on December 22.
Source: graphic online