The General Agricultural Workers Union (GAWU) has welcomed the government’s decision to waive import duty on agro-processing machinery.

The announcement was made by President John Dramani Mahama on Monday, July 28, 2025, as part of efforts to boost investment in local processing and value addition of agricultural produce.

Speaking to Citi Business News at the National Agribusiness Dialogue in Accra, GAWU’s General Secretary, Andrews Addoquaye Tagoe, urged relevant institutions to ensure the initiative is fully implemented.

“Someone is clearly listening to the advocacy we’ve done—especially alongside Channel One News. We’ve raised these issues many times. Listening to the president this morning, I felt many of our concerns were being addressed,” Tagoe stated.

He questioned the rationale behind high import duties on agricultural equipment in a country that relies heavily on agriculture.

“Why impose high import duties on agricultural machinery when we aim to grow our agro-based economy? We’re happy with this move, but now we expect implementation. Institutions must begin work immediately.”

Tagoe also noted challenges in accessing such exemptions, urging authorities to simplify the process.

“When you try to benefit from these waivers, you often have to go through several institutions just to get a letter to show at the port. If the process isn’t streamlined, you may end up paying more at the port than you should. That needs to change,” he added.