The President of the Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GNCCI), Mr. Abass Stephanie Miezan, has thrown his weight behind the proposed new tariff regime by the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) aimed at giving Ghanaian-owned businesses a competitive advantage over foreign operators.

Mr. Miezan described the proposal as a positive intervention capable of providing relief to local businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises, by allowing them to operate under a more favourable tariff and levy regime.

He made the remarks at the second edition of the GNCCI SMEs Business Forum and Exhibition held in Kumasi on Wednesday.

The Kumasi Metropolitan Chief Executive, Hon. Richard Akwasi Ofori-Agyemang, announced at the forum that KMA would introduce the new tariff arrangement in October 2026, under which Ghanaian businesses would continue to pay existing levies while foreign nationals engaged in business activities within the metropolis would attract additional charges.

Mr. Miezan welcomed the initiative, stressing that supporting domestic enterprises was necessary to enable Ghanaian businesses to survive, expand and compete effectively.

He, however, emphasised that the policy should not be interpreted as an attempt to drive away foreign direct investment.

Rather, he said, it should ensure that Ghanaian businesses receive the necessary support to compete fairly in an increasingly competitive market.

The GNCCI President noted that Ghana was not the first country to introduce measures designed to strengthen domestic enterprises and expressed optimism that the proposed tariff system would provide meaningful support to local businesses.

KMA promises tariff advantage for Ghanaian businesses

Speaking at the same event, Mayor Richard Akwasi Ofori-Agyemang said KMA was determined to create a business environment that would give Ghanaian entrepreneurs an edge in the local market.

He explained that the growing influx of foreign businesses and imported products was putting significant pressure on local traders and manufacturers.

“For every levy that Ghanaian traders are paying, we will add extra for foreign nationals,” he stated.

According to him, the policy would ensure that Ghanaian businesses were not placed at an unfair disadvantage in their own market.

He said KMA would also work to enforce relevant provisions of the GIPC law intended to protect small-scale Ghanaian businesses.

Mayor challenges local businesses
Despite the proposed preferential tariff regime, the Mayor cautioned Ghanaian businesses against becoming complacent.

He urged local entrepreneurs to improve the quality, packaging, branding and presentation of their products to enable them to compete with foreign goods.

He stressed that tariff protection alone could not guarantee the success of local businesses if their products failed to meet consumer expectations.

The Mayor also described Kumasi as a major commercial hub for Ghana and the wider West African sub-region, saying the metropolis attracts more than one million visitors from across the sub-region daily.

GNCCI demands stronger SME financing
Mr. Miezan used the occasion to call on banks and financial institutions to introduce more innovative lending products tailored to the needs of SMEs.

He specifically urged financial institutions to explore asset-based financing and digital finance solutions to make credit more accessible to businesses.

He further called on the Ghana Enterprise Agency and the 24-Hour Economy Secretariat to collaborate with the Chamber to expand access to structured and affordable financing for SMEs with the potential to scale up.