The Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana said the March 01 date for the implementation of the Advance Shipment Information System (ASHI) was not convenient for importers.

The Association has therefore appealed to the Ghana Shippers Authority to delay its implementation.

Mr Samson Awingobit Asaki, Executive Secretary of the Association, told the Ghana News Agency that implementing the ASHI on March 01 meant the implementation of two major import policies within the same period as the Ghana Standard Authority's Certificate of Conformity would also take off on March 02.

Mr Asaki said his outfit was surprised that the Ghana Shippers’ Authority, which graciously joined in the fight for the Ghana Standard Authority to postpone the implementation of the CoC, had decided to implement a similar policy a day before the CoC commence.

He questioned, "are they serious to bring such major policies in, at the same time?".

He said they cannot have two major policies implemented at the same time.

The Executive Secretary called on the government to take a critical look at the implementation date and advice the Ghana Shippers’ Authority to postpone it to avoid creating bureaucracy and chaos.

A post on the official web page of the Ghana Shippers’ Authority states that from March 01, 2015, the ASHI would be mandatory for all shipment for the seaports of Ghana including transit cargo.

It said "each bill of lading for maritime shipments to Ghanaian seaports will need to be covered by a validated ASHI document".

Ghana Shippers’ Authority, the post noted, has assigned Antaser Afrique and its international agency network as sole representative in charge of the issuance and validation of the ASHI.

The ASHI is to assist in minimising the cost of clearing cargo at the ports by way of reducing the incidence of payments of high rent and demurrage charges.