Accra — The Minister of Trade, Ms. Hannah Tetteh, has stated that the spare parts dealers at Abossey Okai, who are mostly importers of spare parts, especially used ones cannot access tax incentives.

This is because incentives are not provided for imports. Incentives in Ghana, she explained, are mostly aimed at attracting Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) and also for exports to accelerate the pace of the country's development.

The Minister made these remarks on the floor of Parliament in reaction to a question asked by Member of Parliament for Ablekuma Central, Theophilus Tetteh Chaie, about measures put in place to ensure that the spare parts dealers at Abossey Okai and other areas were given tax incentives to enhance their trade.

Ms. Tetteh told Parliament that the Ministry of Trade and Industry is collaborating with the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) to develop a training programme to enhance the capacity of the domestic private sector, especially Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).

The training will enable the sector respond to and win bids for provision of goods and services and "cover the capacity of all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) procurement entities, she added."

Hon. Chaie again wanted to know the measures the Trade and Industry Ministry has put in place to ensure that the procurement law was modified to allow local businesses to compete favourably with foreign businesses.

Under the Ministry's Trade Sector Support Programme (TSSP) there is a project called the Technology Innovation Center for Capital Goods which aims at establishing an Integrated foundry, Metal working, Machine tool and training center for the manufacture of high precision capital goods and machine components."

Ms Tetteh said the center will produce precision parts and components of equipment and assemble the same for sub-sectors like food processing and automobile spare parts.

She added that the SMEs will also have the opportunity to undergo training and rent facilities to produce spare parts which the existing facilities cannot produce.

"Necessary incentives will be considered to attract private sector investments in such ventures," she stated.