Used electrical appliance sellers in Tema Communities One and Two have complained about the high excise taxes placed on imported items, blaming them for the low quality of customer support.

They complained that several tariffs were levied on their products, making clearance difficult.

In an interview with Ghana News Agency in Tema, Mr. Frank Okyere, a dealer in secondhand products, claimed that the low consumption of goods was caused by the current state of the economy and taxes, which also explained why prices were increasing so quickly.

He listed some of the appliances that have been impacted by the taxes, including washing machines, press irons, and stoves.

A cooker, he claimed, currently sells for between GHS 1,500.00 to GHS 2,000.00, as opposed to GHS 800.00 in the past.

Mr. Okyere claimed that because such business transactions required a lot of capital, they could not be entered into without a strong financial base.

"As a result, some seek out grants and bank loans for additional funding."

Mr. Nimako Clement, another Dealer, sought for help after claiming that taxes were hurting their business.

Mr. Nimako begged the government to reduce import taxes so that many dealers might gain and, in turn, help to cut the unemployment rate by hiring some of the younger generation.

The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has stated that the implementation of tax stamps on new items and textile products at all entry points commenced on October 1, 2023 through Mr. Kwabena Apau, Head of Excise.

He claims that the transitioning period will last from October 1 through December 31 of 2023. All currently marketed goods that were exempt from the tax stamp requirement during this time will need to have them stamped, including sweetened beverages.

"GRA is urging everyone who has inventory of these products to visit the nearby GRA office and apply for stamps to be attached to their inventory," the speaker stated.

Mr. Apau made this declaration during a Joint Customs Consultative Committee (JCCC) session in Tema as part of GRA's initiatives to increase customer knowledge in the port community regarding the use and adherence of excise tax stamps.

He declared that freshly imported commodities that had not previously been subject to the tax stamp would be starting on the aforementioned date.

To demonstrate compliance and payment of all necessary customs and taxes, each textile product will have a special stamp called a "textile tax stamp" attached to it.

On October 1, we started the entrance point enforcement, he said.

"Therefore, all dealers of textile products holding stocks must contact the nearest GRA offices and request that the necessary tax stamps be applied to them," the speaker concluded.