Senior Researcher, Prof. Smart Sarpong has backed Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia over his "Buy Ghana First" policy aimed at enhancing local businesses.

Addressing a gathering at Okaikoi Central constituency in Accra on Wednesday, Dr. Bawumia explained that his Buy Ghana First policy will promote the patronage of local products and improve the private sector.

“I hear we are currently buying school uniforms from China. That will not happen under the ‘Buy Ghana First’ policy…We will also ensure that furniture for schools are not imported from other countries.”

“Whatever we can buy from Ghana, we will buy them here to help boost our local industry, the private and create more jobs for our people”, Dr. Bawumia stated.

Prof. Smart Sarpong described the Buy Ghana First as a laudable policy but implored Dr. Bawumia to reduce taxes on local commodities to discourage foreign imports.

He beleived this policy which, to him, will improve local production can only be possible when local business can survive the tough foreign competition in the importation sector.

"Reduce the taxes in this 'Buy Ghana First' thing...Let it be an intenational policy", he said on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" show.