Disinfection of containers at Tema Port to commence in February

The Minister for Health, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu has given the strongest indication that the disinfection of containers at the various ports and points of entry and exit in the country would commence in the 3rd week of February 2019.

Last year, the policy, which was aimed at fumigating all imported cargo upon arrival at the ports was suspended by government following some agitations by stakeholders who raised the concern of unwarranted cost implications on trade with the introduction of the facility.

But according to the Minister of Health, the scope of the disinfection exercise has taken a national dimension as it now covers various areas including markets and Senior High Schools across the country, in order to allow for the majority of Ghanaians to benefit from the policy.

The Minister of Health disclosed this when he, together with the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, officials of the Port Health Unit, Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, representatives of the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA), Officials from the Association of Customs House Agents, representatives of the Importers and Exporters Association, the Food and Beverages Association of Ghana among others toured the disinfection tunnels in the Port of Tema to have first-hand view of how the tunnels operate.

According to the Minister, issues relating to the cost and parliamentary approval have all been sorted out, adding that the ongoing stakeholder engagements will be concluded soon to allow operations to take-off.

The Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr. Anthony Nsiah-Asare on his part said disinfecting containers that come and leave the Port will help in disease surveillance and control. The Chief Executive Officer of LCB Worldwide Ghana the company contracted by government to undertake the disinfection exercise, Kareem Abu said the 7 tunnels installed at the Port of Tema are state-of-the-art tunnels. Some stakeholders expressed their views on the proposed policy to disinfect containers at the Port.