Government says it is taking steps to effectively deal with the “many integrity problems” at the country’s ports which cause delays in clearing of goods.

Trade and Industry Minister Haruna Idrissu says doing business at the ports of Ghana had become so difficult it was affecting the country’s ratings as friendly business destination.

Importers have over the years complained about the cumbersome processes clearing goods at the ports.

They argue the ports are unattractive compared to Ghana’s neighbouring countries. Now government says it is addressing the situation.

Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on a wide range of trade issues Wednesday, Haruna Idrissu said government is working on a number of “strategic initiatives” to ease the problems at the ports.

For instance, he said the number of scanners at the port would be increased to facilitate easy and early clearance of goods.

The Ghana Ports and Harbour Authority has, therefore, been tasked to designate a place for the scanners.

“We expect that we will add three fixed scanners and additional two mobile scanners in order to increase the speed in which goods are cleared.”

He agreed that it was not helpful for importers to be made to pay demurrage when inefficiencies at the ports cause vessels to stay longer at the ports.

Ministries  of Transport, Trade and Industry, and Finance have come together, working to improve doing business at the ports, he said.

The Minister also disclosed that President John Mahama has directed the three ministries to ensure that the time of clearing goods at the ports is extended.

The Customs, Excise and Preventive Service, beginning 2014, would therefore be working 24 hours, which means the present number of Customs officers has to be increased, he indicated.

Presently, an importer cannot clear goods at the ports after 3pm but the time will now be extended to 6pm, he said.

However, these initiatives bother on matters of legislation, he said, adding that the contravening legislations would be amended as soon as possible for a smooth take off.

“I am sure my colleague, the Minister of Finance, is working on that particular piece of legislation which has to be reviewed in order to facilitate Customs working longer hours.”

In a related development, Haruna Idrissu has appealed to Ghanaians to develop an attitudinal change, tame their taste for foreign products, and consume more locally manufactured products.

Also, he said, the nation must move away from the over concentration on the extractive industry, where raw materials raw materials, to adding values to what is produced here, especially in the area of agro processing.

He decried what he described as the “unfavourable balance of trade” - huge volume of import as against low volume of export.

Ghana can only bridge the difference in exports and imports by increasing its manufacturing base, he suggested.

In this direction, he said, a national export strategy has been launched to increase Ghana’s export trade from 2.3 billion US dollars to 5 billion by 2017. The country would however need an investment of 600 million dollars to realise that, he added.

Ghana must also strengthen its inter and intra Africa trade at the same time.