Adopt Less Cumbersome Methods Of Clearing Goods - Bawumia

Accra, (Greater Accra) 29 Oct. Alhaji Mumuni Bawumia, Chairman of the Council of State, today called for less cumbersome procedures for clearing and fowarding goods at the ports to boost the competitiveness of Ghana's external trade. ''This is against the background that prices of the bulk of our export commodities are fixed on the world market and shipping costs appear to determine the competitiveness of these commodities...'' Alhaji Bawumia was opening at a three-day shipper's day celebration in Accra. The day focuses on the future and problems of the Ghanaian shipper and foster closer links between the users and providers of shipping services. Under the aegis of the Ghana Shippers' Council, the celebration will examine port facilities, customs operations, inland transportation and legal documentation and banking. Alhaji Bawumia said government will always limit its role to that of a facilitator in the privatisation process and would act as a catalyst for the development of enterprises through their related agencies. The deputy Minister of Roads and Transport, Mr Mike Hammah said under the government's privatisation policy, a new shipping act which will replace the Merchant Shipping Act, 1963 will be enacted to meet the modern challenges of the industry. Mr Hammah said government is concerned to achieving efficient transport system in the country because "it is a prerequisite for a successful export trade." The shipping industry alone accounts for about 90 per cent of the country's movement of import and export trade. Mr Moses T. Addico, Chief Executive of the Ghana Shippers Council said to meet the challenging demands on the industry, the Council has established shipper committees in the northern, southern and western sectors of the country. He said in line with its private sector orientation, the council is seeking optimum de-regulation and liberalisation of shipping services in Ghana and allowing market forces to determine freight rates and other conditions of shipment. This, he said, demands effective monitoring and dissemination of information among its 7,000 registered shippers and improving upon the quality of shipping services to be in line with modern international trends and technologies. Mr Addico enumerated some of the problems confronting the industry as port costs, congestion, security, shore handling and custom procedures. He also touched on inland transportation problems which include availability and efficiency of road, rail and water transportation networks, container depot and transit arrangements, among others. "Indeed the problems of the shipping industry are like the waves of the sea lapping incessantly at the ledges..." But, Mr Addico said, "the end result of our efforts as users and providers of shipping services and as facilitators in partnership with our government, is therefore to ensure that shipping costs do not unduly eat up our international trade revenues..." Among the exhibitors are shipping lines, companies and service providers. The Shippers Council which was established in 1974 provides the framework for mutual consultations between shipper, shipping lines, port operators and all those involved in providing related services.