IMANI is ill-informed about fumigation project – Importers and exporters Association

The Importers and Exporters Association have defended crisis prevention and management Company, LCB Worldwide Ghana Limited, who are due to commence the disinfection of imports and exports at the ports in the country from next month.

Policy think tank IMANI Ghana is questioning why the company was sole-sourced to undertake the project.

It also says the project comes at a cost to importers and that government should take another look at the contract.

According to the think tank, LCB Ghana Limited is a Turkish entity whose track record and expertise is not known in the country.

But the Importers and Exporters Association say that the company is a Ghanaian company that has international partners. According to the association, as the sole representative of importers and exporters in the country, it conducted a background check on the company when it was brought to its attention that government was engaging them to undertake the disinfection exercise at the ports. Their investigation revealed that the company followed due process to clinch the contract.

It explained that in terms of expertise and experience, the company has worked in almost all continents globally and is a house-hold name as far as crisis management and prevention is concerned.

The Associations explains further that its findings indicate that the company’s line of business is a specialised one that requires particular and specific expertise; hence not many entities are involved in that line of business. This perhaps explains why the company was the only one that showed interest in undertaking the project in Ghana.

The Association also stated that because of the capital-intensive nature of the project, government couldn’t have financed it out rightly. The company is pre-financing the entire project at no cost to government.

Executive secretary of the association, Samson Asaki, said that it was stakeholders in the import business who met with the company and proposed the charges to be applied. According to him, LCB Worldwide Ghana Limited has proven to be a great company because they readily accepted the rates the stakeholders proposed without any difficulty. “The basis for our support for this great initiative is the fact that it hinges on health plus it is rooted in law.

The Public Health Act is explicit on how the country must go about the prevention and management of bio hazardous infectious diseases.

“I understand this is in accordance with the implementation of the World Health Organisation’s International Health Regulations and we are in full support. It is for the national good so we will not obstruct and/or derail it,’’ he said.

According to Mr. Asaki, his Association, the Customs Brokers Association of Ghana, the Association of Customs House Agents Ghana and the Foods and Beverages Association among other stakeholders were consulted based on which they unanimously consented to the roll out of the project.

‘’I read the article by IMANI and they are ill-informed about this whole issue’’ he stated.

‘’I have personally spoken to Franklin Cudjoe on this matter and my impression was that he was ill-informed. Based on the briefing I gave him, I think reason has prevailed. I have personally been to the port to see the progress of work in terms of the construction of the disinfection tunnels at the Tema and Takoradi Ports and these jobs are being done by Ghanaians. A local contractor by name of SOD construction limited, a wholly owned Ghanaian construction firm is responsible for the construction of the tunnels in both ports. That is job creation and that is what the country needs.’’

According to Mr. Asaki, the Ebola crisis that hit neighbouring West African countries should be lesson enough for the country to urgently make provision for the prevention of bio hazardous infectious outbreaks.”

He added, “I am sure you are aware that the veterinary service issued a statement last week about sick animals crossing our borders with no veterinary officers to treat them. Imagine what will happen when these animals find their way into our spaces. That is a catastrophe waiting to happen. No amount of money can be equated to the loss of a single life and that is the perspective from which we are looking at this matter. Let’s get this important fumigation process underway. Time is of the essence.’’