A group of rice importers who mainly bring in their merchandise through Ivory Coast have questioned the imposition of an additional import duty on their goods. The Ghana-Ivory Coast Rice Importers Association said though they have sighted a supposed circular issued by CEPS last month directing officials to collect the new tax, they are suspicious that it may have been instigated by some foreign operators to run them out of business. In an interview with Luv FM, Secretary of the Association, Mensah Bonsu noted the new tariff which brings the total tax on a 25 kilo bag of rice to 24 dollars is likely to push up prices in the Northern half of the country. Luv FM’s Elton John Brobbey reported Mr. Bonsu as wondering whether the government was aware of the directive for an increase in the duty on rice. He said the new tariff will increase the price of a bag of rice to GHc 75 which Mr Bonsu said will be expensive for the ordinary consumer. According to the rice importers, this situation has the potential to affect their business negatively. Source: Joy Business/Ghana