Parliamentary Committee on Trade & Industry tells car dealers to abide by the laws and honor tax obligations

The Parliamentary Select Committee on Trade, Industry, and Tourism, has visited some industrial zones to identify high-performing companies, understand their operations, and assess their challenges and how best the Committee and the government can support these businesses by identifying and removing barriers to their growth.

The Chief Operating Officer at Rana Motors, Mr. Kassem M. Odaymat, who is also Founding Member of the Assemblers Association, and current President of the Ghana Automobile Distributors Association, warmly welcomed the Committee and expressed his appreciation for their recognition of the institution.

Mr. Odaymat addressed key challenges facing the automotive assembly industry in Ghana, particularly those related to policy implementation. He highlighted that several issues remain unresolved, especially government institutions such as the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA). He further explained that the GSA introduced vehicle homologation in recent years, a process meant to ensure that all vehicles imported into Ghana meet national standards.

While assemblers and new vehicle importers have complied by paying fees, obtaining certifications, and ensuring full homologation, the policy has not been fully enforced on imported used (second hand) vehicles and it is creating an imbalance, where new vehicles are subjected to extra inspections despite generally requiring less scrutiny.

He said used (second hand) vehicles which should be closely examined are not being adequately inspected creating unnecessary hurdles and slowing the industry’s growth.

The company recognizes that moving from SKD (Semi Knocked Down) to ESKD (Enhanced Semi Knocked Down) is relatively manageable, but transitioning to CKD (Completely Knocked Down) requires significant development.

The Chairman of the Committee, Alexander Roosevelt Hottordze, commended the institution for the good work done but urged them to showcase more of their products for wider reach.

He also advised them to abide by the laws and honor their tax obligations, assuring them that the Committee’s findings and recommendations would be presented on the floor of Parliament for consideration. “We know where the loopholes are, and we are ready to fill them,” he said

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