NDC Manifesto: We will scrap law banning importation of salvaged cars - Mahama

Flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) says the party will remove the ban on the importation of salvaged vehicles should they win power in the upcoming polls.

The move, according to John Mahama will improve the livelihood of persons in the local automobile industry.

“We will review the Customs Amendment Act 2020… to scrap the law banning the importation of salvaged vehicles,” he said at the Party’s manifesto launch on September 7.

The former president indicated that the duties paid on the importation of vehicles at the country’s ports will also be reduced.

This he said will “save the local automotive industry so that our people at Suame Magazine, Konkompe to continue to work and earn a decent living,”

Background

Parliament, in March, passed the Customs (Amendment) Bill, 2020 an amendment of the existing Customs Act, 2015 (Act 891).

The amendment banned the importation of accident and salvaged motor vehicles comprising of wrecked, destroyed and those physically damaged by collision, fire, water, or other occurrences into the country.

The law banning the importation of salvaged vehicles into Ghana comes into effect on November 1, 2020.

Shipping agents, Importers, and freight forwarders were therefore advised to properly counsel their clients on importing such vehicles to Ghana and its consequences.

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Aweya Julius Kantum, Assistant Commissioner of Customs in charge of Policy and Programmes, Customs Division, Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), who gave the advice, said agents were the main source of information for importers, therefore, they needed to appreciate relevant laws before they brought a car or anything into Ghana.

Mr. Kantum revealed that as scheduled, the GRA would start enforcing the law from November 1, 2020.

“The time of importation in Customs is the time that the ship docks and reports to customs that it has docked. If the ship comes from 1st November, it means it is time-bound and it means that the law will catch it, ”he said.
He added that it would be incumbent on agents to understand the law and desist from bringing salvaged cars and cargo into Ghana as one will be liable if he or she broke the law.