Gov’t to ‘ban’ importation of diapers, rice, ‘yemuadie’ and other products

The Akufo-Addo led government is to present a Legislative Instrument (L.I.) restricting the importation of some key products including rice and diapers, to boost local production.

This L.I. is aimed at limiting the importation of 20 items including staples like rice, tripe (locally known as “yemuadie” in Ghana), and diapers among others.

According to the Minister of Trade and Industry, Kobina Tahir Hammond, the move is part of a broader strategy to bolster local production.

Addressing the media in Parliament, the Adansi-Asokwa MP said “By these restrictions, we are not going to ensure that there’s no food in the country at all; that is not the point at all. There have to be some efforts by the government to ensure that we go back to Acheampong’s operation feed yourself. There are about 22 items on the list, one of them, I think, is diapers, Stomach of animals, bladder and the chunk of intestines (yemuadie).

He stressed that, “the country had had to put in an amount of about $164 million towards the importation of these items” and added that steps are being taken to ensure there’s no shortage of the said products.

Mr Hammond clarified that the intent behind these restrictions is not to create food scarcity but rather to encourage a return to self-sufficiency, reminiscent of the “Operation Feed Yourself” initiative during Acheampong’s era.

Additionally, he announced the implementation of the Ghana Standards Authority Regulations 2023, designed to streamline cement manufacturing processes to promote competitive pricing in the market.