The government is taking decisive steps to tackle challenges at the ports, recognising their critical role in the success of the new 24-Hour Economy policy, President John Dramani Mahama has declared.

During an interaction with the leadership of the Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders (GIFF) on Friday, July 11, the President acknowledged a series of frustrations plaguing the nation's primary trade gateways, promising reforms to enhance efficiency and reduce costs for businesses.

"We know that our flagship policy, the 24-Hour Economy, is dependent on fast, efficient operations at the ports of entry—airports, land borders, and especially the seaports," President Mahama stated, underscoring the strategic importance of the maritime sector to his administration's economic transformation agenda.

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The President traced the history of the country's port infrastructure, noting, "The port operated by Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority was built by Nkrumah—or perhaps even during the colonial period—and had served Ghana for so many years.

We tried to expand it, but we reached a point where nothing more could be done. That is why, during my first term, we partnered with MPS to build a new port at Tema."

However, the President revealed pressing concerns about the current state of affairs at the expanded port.

He shared that a recent cabinet briefing had highlighted a "shortfall in collections," with Tema being the primary source of the problem. "There’s been a significant increase in volumes, which should have offset the shortfall, but instead, we are seeing a reduction," he lamented.

Echoing the grievances of the freight forwarders, President Mahama pointed to systemic failures that are costing businesses time and money.

"We get frequent complaints that for the whole day, the system is down, and yet, despite the system failure, they are waiting to charge you demurrage," he said, referring to persistent issues with the Integrated Customs Management System (ICUMS).

"There must be a way of stopping the clock when ICUMS is down so people are not unfairly penalised."

The issue of what he termed "unfair" charges was a focal point of the President's remarks. He questioned the logic behind certain fees, asking, "Why charge for each container when the processing is done once on a single document? I asked around, and they don’t do that in Lomé or any other port—only in Ghana."

This has been a significant point of contention for freight forwarders, who argue that such practices make Ghana's ports less competitive in the sub-region.

In a move towards resolving these bottlenecks, President Mahama disclosed that a comprehensive report on improving export processing has been compiled following a stakeholder meeting that included the Ghana Revenue Authority.

"They came up with a very comprehensive report," he announced. "I hope the agencies involved will implement the recommendations to make exports smoother."

The President's assurances come at a crucial time, as the 24-Hour Economy initiative, which officially commenced this month, is heavily reliant on streamlined port operations to facilitate round-the-clock manufacturing, processing, and export activities.

The leadership of the Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders welcomed the President's frankness and expressed their readiness to collaborate with the government to implement the proposed reforms, aiming to restore Tema Port's competitiveness and ensure the success of the nation's ambitious economic agenda.