CEO of the Private Enterprise Federation (PEF), Nana Osei Bonsu has called on government to introduce an import license policy to regulate the country’s imports.

An import license is a document issued by a national government authorizing the importation of certain goods into its territory.

According to him such a move has become critical as a measure to preserve some of the country’s forex and also prevent an influx of foreign made goods in the country’s markets.

In an interview with Citi Business News, Nana Osei Bonsu said government government must do all it can to strengthen the cedi and economy.

“People look at import license as a barrier but it is needed to justify why we have to allow you to spend our foreign exchange to import certain commodities”.

“It is just to find ways to tell the authorities that this is needed in the country but when we have things that are available in volumes and people are still bringing them in and undercutting the price locally it does not enable the local people compete. The license will make people tell us why they need to import certain goods using our valuable and limited resources. It can also avoid the case where, for instance, you bring an amount of pillows that will not even be needed for the next ten years. Import license is needed, it shouldn’t be imposed. It will help us as a country limit our exposure to weakening the economy”

Nana Osei Bonsu spoke to Citi Business News at the sidelines of the launch of the Youth Entrepreneurship Summit and Expo which  will commence on the 7th of December and ends on the 11th of December 2022 at Kumasi.

The Summit seeks, among other things, to bring together a minimum of two hundred (200) young entrepreneurs with established and existing businesses from across the length and breadth of the country under the theme “EMPOWERINGYOUTH ENTERPRISES FOR SUSTAINABLE INDUSTRIALIZATION.”  According to the organizers of the event considering the nation’s target to become an entrepreneurial nation, this theme will bring together various stakeholders, including young entrepreneurs, policymakers, the private sector, and researchers, to explore, ideate, collaborate, and generate new approaches that respond to the ever-changing needs, challenges, and dreams of young entrepreneurs.
The four-day event will comprise presentations by carefully selected technocrats and professionals, panel discussions, focused group discussions, and question and answer segments, among other tools.