The Customs Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) on Saturday reminded importers, exporters and Freight Forwarders that the law covering rent charged on cargoes at the ports has not been changed.

It therefore urged customers to operate in accordance with the law to ensure smooth trade transaction with the CEPS and the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) in order to generate revenue for the state, Mr Kwaw Anyimiah, Principal Collector in charge of Compliance at the Customs Long Room issued the reminder at a forum at Tema.

The forum was organised by the SafeBond Company Limited at Tema, Shore handlers of vehicles and goods to interact with its customers aimed at assessing its performance of its two years in existence with a view to guide their operations.

His remark was in an answer to a question posed by a customer who had the impression that rent on cargo at the port had changed and therefore saw it as a cheat to pay for rent charges.

Mr Anyimiah said the CEPS Management Law 330 of 1993 stipulates that 21 days after goods had been discharged from a vessel, rent is calculated for payment and debunked the notion that the law had been expunged from the CEPS books.

The forum afforded the participants who were mainly representatives of importers, exporters, freight forwarders and other clients the opportunity to express their concerns impeding their work.

They complained, among other issues, of delay in the clearance of goods, too many security and examination officers to inspect their cargoes and the prevention of importers to accompany clearing agents to examine their cargo and vehicles in the company's yard located at the Western gate of the Tema main harbour.

They also complained of charges on goods transferred from the port to the company's yard and said this should not be their (clients) responsibility.

To ensure uninterrupted business transaction, the participants stressed the need for the Company to procure a stand-by generator and establish banking hall within the yard.

They called on the management of the SafeBond Company to contact the GPHA to streamline anomalies hindering their operations.

Mr. Stephen Amo, Financial Manager and some of the management team who took turns to answer their concerns said some of their sentiments had been programmed to be addressed and asked them to exercise restraint, while they worked on them.

They explained that security was tight at the yard to avoid stealing of goods which have been insured hence the prevention of all kinds of people into the company's yard.

GNA