B5 Plus Chairman Mukesh Thakwani has called on the government to ban the importation of products that can be manufactured locally, arguing that stronger support for Ghanaian industries could create jobs, boost exports and reduce the country’s expenditure on imported goods.
Speaking during a media engagement with the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Mr Thakwani said domestic production capacity remained significantly underutilised, even as competing products continued to enter the Ghanaian market.
‘Industry Capacity Is Underused’
The head of the iron and steel manufacturing company cited capacity utilisation of below 50 per cent in the industry, arguing that local manufacturers have the potential to significantly increase production.
He said increased domestic output could serve not only Ghana but also markets across the West African sub-region.
“So we are not only producing the goods for Ghana but also for the West African market,” he said.
Mr Thakwani urged the government to review the continued importation of products that can be produced by local businesses.
He also raised concerns about exemptions granted to some competing imports and questioned the tax treatment of certain imported products, arguing that local manufacturers require stronger policy support to compete effectively.
He did not, however, identify specific importers or provide a list of products that should be subject to the proposed restrictions.
Call for Stronger Support for Local Industry
According to Mr Thakwani, promoting local production could help Ghana conserve foreign exchange while creating additional employment opportunities.
He linked the call for import restrictions to broader national objectives around industrialisation, trade, employment and economic development.
He argued that when local businesses have the capacity to manufacture goods that are being imported, policies should be designed to encourage domestic production rather than place local manufacturers at a disadvantage.
B5 Plus Highlights Investment
Turning to B5 Plus’s operations, Mr Thakwani highlighted the company’s investment in prefabrication capacity, saying its products have the potential to compete in international markets.
He cited the company’s ISO certification and adoption of the Kaizen approach to continuous improvement as part of its commitment to maintaining quality and improving production processes.
His policy appeal came alongside his acknowledgement of the GRA’s recognition of B5 Plus for its tax compliance.
“We accept this recognition with humility, and it encourages us to work even harder and contribute even more to the development and prosperity of our country,” he said.
Mr Thakwani reaffirmed B5 Plus’s commitment to responsible corporate citizenship, good governance, continued investment, job creation and meeting its tax obligations.
He maintained that creating a stronger environment for local manufacturing would enable businesses to expand production, employ more people and contribute more significantly to Ghana’s economic growth.
