Shippers Council Promises Stress-Free Shipping

A one-day seminar organised by the Ghana Shippers' Council in collaboration with the Ghana CommunityNetworking Services Limited (GCNet), and dubbed "Facilitating clearance of goods in Ghana's ports" has ended.

It was aimed at enhancing the clearance of goods at the country's ports devoid of the characteristic hassle that go with the procedure. Participants were taken through a yet-to-be introduced method which uses the Electronic Data Interchange (EDI), which makes the procedure simpler, time saving and less expensive for importers to receive their goods through customs.

The method would replace the current manual procedures which have proved less efficient and more of a headache for importers who have time without number complained about the containarization system which they say scares investors among other bottlenecks it creates.

The new method will also reduce customs/importers contact thereby reducing fraud and corruption.

Mr. Owusu Mensah, Director General of Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), praised the initiative which he said will eliminate congestion in the ports.

In a related development, the Director-General has announced that the Port of Tema is being dredged to enable it admit bigger container vessels since the country wants to serve as a gateway to the West African sub region. He said to ease the suffering of the economy, there should be adequate port capacity for traffic arriving at the port.

Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku, Minister of Trade and Industry reiterated the importance of the initiate and appealed for good services to customers as a means of helping the government to mobilise revenue because most people fail to pay the right tax a phenomenon which makes government realise only 45% of the total expected revenues.

Mr. Felix Owusu Adjapong, Minister of Transport and Communications who was also at the function expressed his delight adding that it will go a long way to help the country streamline import procedures and facilitate Ghana's trade with the outside world.