The Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana (IEAG) has criticised the Minister for Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, for failing to ensure broad stakeholder engagement ahead of the mid-year budget review scheduled for Thursday, July 24.

The Association expressed concern over a recent meeting convened by the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) to discuss proposed Value Added Tax (VAT) reforms, alleging that key trading associations, including theirs, were not invited.

Speaking to Citi News on Sunday, July 20, 2025, the Executive Secretary of the IEAG, Samson Asaki Awingobit, questioned the transparency and inclusivity of the government’s consultative process.

“I was in a meeting last week when I heard the GRA was engaging the business community on VAT reforms. I sent a message to their communications officer and said, ‘You claim to be inviting stakeholders, but you’ve left out the most relevant ones.’ Later, they’ll say they’ve done stakeholder consultations—but who exactly did they speak to?

“They told me the engagement was on a group basis and that they would reach out to me. But as it stands, just days before the budget review, we—an Association of Importers and Exporters—have not been invited,” he said.

The Association has called on the Finance Ministry to ensure broader consultations that reflect the interests of all stakeholders in the trading community before finalizing fiscal policies.