The Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) has expressed disgust about the high cost of doing business at the country’s ports. Daniel Aggrey, Second Vice President of the traders union said, “The high taxes, levies, cumbersome processes and procedures of clearing cargo, unnecessary charges, theft and many more, do not augur well for the growth and development of the private sector which is touted as the engine of growth of the country.” He said if port officials do not desist from such acts, the country would lose a lot in terms of business image and revenue generation. He reiterated that as a result of the problems encountered at the ports, neighbouring landlocked countries like Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger who heavily patronize Ghana’s ports are losing interest in the use of the ports. “We should not lose sight of the fact that our neighbouring countries like Togo, Benin and Cote d’Ivoire whose clearing systems seemed better than ours, may easily overtake us.” Mr. Aggrey, who is also the Chairman of the Kantamanto Hardware Dealers Association, was addressing an open forum, which was organized for Kantamanto Trade Associations by the Ghana Shippers’ Authority (GSA) in collaboration with GUTA. It formed part of the Authority’s efforts at engaging importers, exporters and traders in their trading localities to assess the problems confronting them in their day-to-day business transactions, with a view to assisting them to find solutions to these operational bottlenecks. The ultimate aim of the forum was to help facilitate fast clearance of goods at the ports. The forum was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Destination Inspection Companies, Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, Customs Excise and Preventive Service, and other stakeholders in the industry. Addressing the traders, Emmanuel Martey, Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GSA, said the issue of efficiency in the country’s ports and land entry points in relation to the clearance of goods has been a matter of concern to Ghanaian shippers over the years. “It is a known fact that several organizations are involved in the clearance of goods, and the problems in relation cannot be laid solely at the doorsteps of any organization,” he added. He said in realizing this problem government is taking the necessary steps to strengthen its internal tax collection mechanism at the ports. He therefore noted that if this goes along with the systematic reduction in duty rates, shippers and agents would not be forced to conduct improper documentation and processing. Mr. Martey intimated that despite all the efforts being made to minimize the problems in the clearance of goods, the expected results would only be achieved if shippers do the right things. “We wish therefore to advise our shippers to desist from engaging in nefarious activities like under-invoicing and falsification of invoices,” he added. Source: Esther Awuah/Business Guide