Delays at port attributed to national security at port

Tema, Feb. 27, GNA - Clearing Agents and importers are at loggerheadswith the security agencies at the Tema port over delays in the clearance of goods at the port.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency, the importers claimed that the security agencies the port had been ordering the return of containers that had been cleared by Customs for re-examination.

"What is painful is that when you are ordered to go back to the port for re-examination, you don't receive any attention and sometimes you spend so many hours and even days at the port," an importer said.

Mr Venance Tei Azu, a Customs House Broker, who confirmed this explained that after examination of his 40-foot container of assorted household goods by Customs, he paid 51.2 million cedis duty.

He said after examination, the goods were loaded back into the container, and all documents were released to him. However when he got to the last checkpoint, the security agency personnel ordered him to go back to the port for re-examination.

Mr Azu said he sent the container back to the port at noon on Wednesday but as at the following day, no security personnel showed up to do the re-checking.

"What this means is that it has caused me further demurrage on the container, the driver will charge extra depending on how long the container stands on the truck and other unexpected expenses," he lamented.

When contacted, a source from the national security at the port confirmed the story and explained that in the case of some importers, there was lack of communication that caused unfortunate delays.