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

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Ghana, Accra, Mankessim. Ishmael Awudi is a journalist and a media entrepreneur. He founded Ghana News Guide. GNG is an online news platform that focuses on news stories within Ghana and across the world on a regular basis. The primary objective of GNG is to ensure that news stories are reported as they are, with no filters applied. In its news coverage, GNG strives for professionalism.He also founded Wetour, a local tourism agency aimed at boosting the tourism space in Ghana with the youth at focus.Ishmael works with The Afriam Network as the head of business development. Afriam Network is a global company based in Ghana, Accra that offers a variety of services such as Customer Service, Debt Collection, Order Taking, Lead Generation, Customer Surveys, and Telesales. Ishmael holds a bachelor's degree from the Ghana Institute of Journalism. He won the best online media personality award in 2019 at level 300.He has contributed to several media houses in Ghana including.

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