‘Even In The US People Buy Second Hand Cars’ – Ken Agyapong Blasts NPP Gov’t On Law Banning Some Used Cars

Member of Parliament for Assin Central, Kennedy Agyapong, has taken a swipe at the NPP government’s policy that bans the importation of some category of used cars into the country.

The controversial legislator and NPP presidential aspirant, while speaking to some NPP delegates at a town hall meeting at Virginia in the United States, said the policy was not well-thought through as it will lead to job losses and affect the incomes of those in the business of importing cars.

“Another mistake in our budget today is that, in America here, where they produce ford, Lincoln, Cadillac and what not; don’t they sell used cars here? In Ghana, now the law is that, you cannot bring a year to five year old car because VW is going to produce brand new cars in Ghana, because Nissan is going to produce brand new cars in Ghana.”

“When I was arguing with one guy he said, come out and let’s debate. When he started I said you see, because you don’t work and you’re sitting down as a minister who is given money to chop, you don’t know anything.”

The Member of Parliament lamented the policy has led to an astronomical increase in import duties on cars which is affecting vehicle importers and all individuals importing cars for their personal use.

“…And the way you’re treating these traders the direct tax through custom duties is more than anything in the country. Look at the number of people that are going to lose jobs. How many jobs are these new companies going to create? We didn’t sit down to analyze all these things, and we just came out with policies.”

“Just 2016, I bought 240 used pickups for NPP’s campaign. Today you’re in power, and you’re telling Ghanaians not to buy used pick-ups, used cars. First of all, what is the purchasing power of every Ghanaian in the country? How many people can afford brand new cars? What I expect the Trade Minister to do, is to tell the new companies to use Ghana as a hub, produce these new cars and sell them to the African market because the Ghana market is so small.”

The no-nonsense MP who spoke strongly about the struggle Ghanaians are going through portrayed himself as the best person to lead the NPP in the 2024 elections to save Ghanaians from the hardship.

“I have a vision, and my vision is that at least 50 percent of industries should go to the north because of the nature of the land there.”

Ghana has banned the importation of cars older than 10 years to encourage international companies including Volkswagen and Nissan Motor to set up local plants in the West African country.

The new law also provides import-duty rebates for companies that manufacture or assemble cars in Ghana under a special government program meant to draw investment.

Volkswagen, Nissan, Toyota Motor, Suzuki Motor and Renault are among automakers weighing the local assembly of vehicles in a country where used cars make up about 70 per cent of vehicle imports.

Ghana is seeking to become a car-manufacturing hub for West Africa, a region with more than 380 million people. Used-car sellers offer more affordable deals in Ghana since auto loans are rare.

The law, signed by President Nana Akufo-Addo on April 30, 2022, also bans the importation of cars which have been involved in accidents, which dealers bring in and repair to provide even cheaper options to consumers.

Source: Tru News Report