The Association of Freight Forwarders has expressed concern about the constant disregard of calls by professional bodies for government to reduce bureaucracy at the country’s ports.

This, the association noted, had contributed to the current congestion at the various ports in the country.

The concerns were raised by the President of the association, Carlos Kinsley Ahenkorah at its 16th Annual General Meeting (AGM) at Elmina in the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem (KEEA) Municipality of the Central region over the weekend.

The AGM was on the theme, “Supply chain security: An emerging threat to cost of doing business in Ghana.”

Mr. Ahenkorah disclosed that although government consulted the association and other organizations for professional advice, their inputs were ignored.

“In the past whereas security measures were traditionally implemented to protect trade and cargos, today it is more often the trade and cargo itself that has become a security risk,” he added.

The Deputy Commissioner of Customs Exercise and Preventive Services (CEPS), Kwesi Yenserah, who represented the Commissioner of CEPS, reiterated the commitment of his outfit to protect and ensure security of supply chain.

He appealed to the association to call recalcitrant members to order.

The CEPS boss indicated that the country cannot enjoy adequate peace and tranquility if narcotics and other drug related issues are encouraged.

The Chief Executive of Sekondi Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA) Captain Cudjoe (Rtd), who chaired the function, stressed the need to liaise with the government to ensure the incorporation of their inputs into government policies.

Captain Cudjoe (Rtd) called on stakeholders to come together and form a formidable force that would help them lobby the government.

“One day we will redraw our services for government to know how important our work is, since we have been the backbone of the country’s economy,” he said.

The Mayor of Sekondi-Tarkoradi, who is also a member of the association, charged the public to discard the notion that Freight Forwarders are criminals.

The function was also used to launch the association’s first magazine.

The president bought the first copy of the magazine for GHC1,000.