Court suit won’t stop CTN implementation – Kwaku Kwarteng

A Deputy Finance Minister, Kwaku Kwarteng has asserted that implementation of the planned Cargo Tracking Note (CTN) at the country’s ports will commence despite court suit.

The Ghana Revenue Authority is kick starting the implementation from Monday, October 15 amidst protests by port business operators led by Freight Forwarders, the Importers and Exporters Association and the Ghana Union of Traders Association, GUTA.

Last week, government made some compromise and by this new policy, any importer who imports less than 36 TEUs per year is exempt from CTN compliance.

Businesses that import more than 36 TEUs per year but can demonstrate that the nature of their imports and their turnovers make them small importers will also be exempt.

But stakeholders are still habouring reservations as a freight forwarder, John Kwame Adu Jack has filed a case in court seeking an injunction on Ghana Revenue Authority from implementing the new CTN systems.

Speaking on Radio XYZ’ Morning Show, “ETe Sen?” with Kwame Minkah on Monday, October 15, the Deputy Finance Minister reiterated government’s commitment to implementing the policy to help generate the needed revenue for the country’s development.

He explained…. “government does not immediately roll out a policy without consultation. So if someone files a suit in court against government’s policy, it doesn’t necessarily mean government must back down on the policy. The most important thing is it’s positive impact on the economy, which is why we are still bent on implementing the policy.”

He observed that, the policy now targets the top 5% importers whose imports amount to about 65% of the country’s total imports.

Asked about whether the NPP is mindful of assertions by stakeholders and other key industry expert that the move which has been described as being in “bad faith” could take the NPP back to opposition, Mr. Kwarteng avows in Akan ” the NPP is not a party that succumbs to such threats because at the end of the day, many will come to see the benefits after its implementation.”