Samson Asaki Awingobit, the Executive Secretary of the Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana (IEAG), has urged importers to reduce prices to reflect recent economic improvements.

In an interview with the Ghana News Agency, he described it as unpatriotic for importers to keep prices high despite the appreciation of the cedi against major trading currencies and improved business conditions.

“There has been predictability and relative ease of doing business. Importers must be reasonable and reduce their prices,” he said, appealing to them to act in the national interest.

Awingobit was responding to a call by the Greater Accra Market Women Association (GAMWA) for importers to lower prices to reflect economic gains and ease the burden on consumers.

According to GAMWA, prices of imported goods remain high despite improvements in key indicators, including a drop in fuel prices from GH¢15 per litre in December 2024 to about GH¢12 by the end of 2025.

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The cedi also appreciated by about 40.7 per cent against the dollar by the end of 2025.

Awingobit noted that the Association could not sanction importers who failed to adjust prices because Ghana operated a liberal market economy where prices were not state-controlled.

He said the Association had issued appeals to its members and would continue to engage them to reduce prices.

He also advised traders to patronise importers who offer reasonable prices.

“Market women should move from warehouse to warehouse to find suppliers with fair prices. Those who refuse to reduce their prices should not be patronised,” he said.

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