The Coalition of Car and Spare Parts Dealers within Tema, Spintex, and Ashaiman say they will embark on a demonstration against government on Thursday, August 27, 2020.

The exercise is to protest against the implementation of the Customs Amendment Act 2000.

“The protest is to serve a strong signal to the government that its decision will collapse our business and deprive more than 20,000 artisans of their livelihood if the policy is rolled out on 1st November 2020,”  a statement from the Coalition signed by Secretary of the Tema Car Dealers Association, Kofi Asamoah read.

In March this year, Parliament unanimously passed the Customs (Amendment) Bill, 2020 after it was read on the floor of the House for the third time

The objective of the Bill is to amend the Customs Act, 2015 (ACR 891) to provide incentives for automotive manufacturers and assemblers under the Ghana Automotive Manufacturing Development Programme, prohibit the importation of salvaged motor vehicles and specific vehicles over ten years old into the country.

But in the press release, the group insists that the livelihood of its members are at stake.

The Coalition also alleged that although there have been series of meetings between the Trade and Industry Ministry and the Coalition, and subsequently the President, Akufo-Addo, their concerns have not been addressed.

“We intend to embark on series of actions throughout the country starting with Tema followed by Accra, Kumasi, Takoradi, and Tamale respectively to register our protest against the implementation of the policy on 1st November 2020."

They are therefore calling  on all members to come “out in their numbers in support of this protest march to save our business or vote massively against the insensitivity of the NPP government to our plight,” the statement concluded.