Importers, Exporters urged to be involved in clearing processes

Importers and Exporters have been advised to be more involved in the clearing process of their goods from the country’s port.

Asistant Commissioner Mawuse Esi Dadgo, Second in Command, in-charge of administration, Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Tema Port, who gave the advice, said "put yourselves into the port activities especially issues of taxation. You should not leave everything in the hands of the clearing agents.”

She gave the advice on Thursday when officials of the Customs Division of the GRA interacted with Executive Members of the Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana in Tema.

According to her, because importers and exporters did not get involved in clearing process, agents often blamed high clearance charges on Customs “so I want you to educate yourselves on the rates and taxes charged on clearance of goods to clear any misconception.”

Assistant Commissioner Dadgo also appealed to agents not to charge importers and exporters in bulk for clearance without giving them the detailed charges.

She urged them to ensure that their declarations matched the contents in their containers to avoid undue delays during the process. According to her, so long as importers, exporters and agents under declared their goods, customs would continue to open containers after scanning to check their contents.

She explained that the scanner is able to pick the general content of a container but not every detail. Mr Sampson Asaki, Executive Secretary, Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana, said the interaction was an eye opener as members had been educated on many issues.

Mr Asaki advised fellow importers and exporters to do proper declaration and also develop interest in the clearance process. The members toured the operational areas of Customs in the Tema Port after the interactions.