Rice importers are raising concerns over what they describe as unfair duty exemptions granted by the government on emergency rice imports.
The Ministry of Food and Agriculture recently secured parliamentary approval to import rice under a special arrangement that exempts these imports from taxes and duties, aimed at preventing food shortages due to prolonged dry spells in some parts of the country.
However, many importers argue that these tax breaks are being unfairly granted to a select few, leaving other industry players at a disadvantage. They warn that this selective approach undermines fair competition in the rice import sector and could result in higher prices for consumers, as only a few importers benefit from the tax relief.
John Awuni, Chairman of the Rice Importers Association, expressed his concerns in an interview with Citi Business News, stating that this policy could harm rice availability and affordability for households nationwide.
“Industry players are worried about the selective granting of duty exemptions on rice imports,” Awuni said. “This approach leads to discrimination and fosters corruption in the system. To ensure food security and sustainability, duty exemptions should be applied across the board to provide equal opportunities for all players in the industry.”
