The Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana is bitterly lamenting the government’s refusal to take measures that will cushion the business community, in the wake of the economic hardships.

According to the association, it is regrettable that the government promised to reduce the tax burdens on importers and exporters, only to turn its back on them.

Executive Secretary to the Association, Sampson Asaki Awingobit told Citi Business News Government defaulted on its promise of cushioning the business community hence in these difficult times.

Mr. Asaki Awingobit said Ghanaians will have to brace up for further hikes in prices during the yuletide.

“The business community has no choice but to increase prices to remain in business. The same Government that promised to make business convenient for us is increasing the cost of doing business at the ports without any recourse to dialogue” Mr Awingobit said.

He further urged the public to start shopping ahead of the yuletide to avoid price hikes. This he said is mostly due to Government’s actions and inactions.

“Even though the World trade organization says customs should accept transactional values Ghana customs never accept transactional values. No business in Ghana will bring transactional value for customs to accept in Ghana. They have thrown it to the dogs even though it is in our laws” Mr Awingobit further said.

Government last week announced a pegging of the dollar rate with the interbank rate at the ports for traders over the next three months but Mr. Awingobit said that promise did not materialize.