The Speaker of Parliament, the Right Hon. Edward Doe Adjaho is calling for a stronger and healthier relationship between the customs division of the Ghana Revenue Authority and the Freight Forwarding fraternity in the country.

In his estimation, such collaboration will not only promote the free flow of international trade in the country, but will also account for a secure and continued revenue mobilization for national development. In a speech read on his behalf by the Member of Parliament for Tema East Constituency, the Hon. Daniel Nii Kwatei Titus Glover, at the 5th graduation of the Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders in Tema last week, the Right Hon. Doe Adjaho congratulated the institute for taking the initiative as a private entity to help develop the human resource base needed by the industry rather than looking up to government for support and assistance.

‘’Freight forwarding activities is about the coordination of both domestic and international trade. It is to ensure that traded goods move from their origin to their destination at the right place, at the right time and in good condition and at an economic cost. These services enable all of us to obtain essential goods and services at affordable prices. The knowledge, skills and understanding required in facilitating these trade activities are what the GIFF academy has imbibed in you during your training as professional forwarders’’ the speaker told the graduands.

He was happy that the international nature of the curriculum which is done with a vocational touch also offered graduates with equally wider prospects on the job market.

"I am informed by the leadership that previous graduates have obtained employment at middle management level in shipping, logistics and freight management companies in the industry, with others establishing their own companies through mentoring" he opined.

While entreating licentiate and corporate members of the institute not to relent in their effort of supporting the institute’s training programme in diverse ways, he also admonished them to pursue their work with dignity, integrity and self-respect to ensure that the country’s international trade systems are not abused with the connivance of unscrupulous elements such as tax dodgers, money launderers and fraudsters who may use the services of the freight forwarders for their parochial and selfish interests at the detriment of the nation.

President of the institute, Mr. Joseph Agbaga delivering his welcome address noted that the serious work and frantic efforts by the institute had catapulted them to the enviable recognition as a centre of excellence for FIATA training programmes across Africa.

According to him, the institute at the FIATA headquarters session in March last year validated the FIATA higher diploma in supply chain management with the first batch for the course commencing studies on the 28th of February.

Mr. Agbaga announced that the education department of the institute had initiated an institutional accreditation process for its proposed degree programmes too, noting that one of the institutes own, Mr. Robert Kingsford Kutin had risen to the enviable rank of vice president of FIATA.

"Our training programmes are on high demand locally and internationally to both industry practitioners and students who dream of a career in freight logistics management. This is partly as a result of the increasing international trade worldwide and the rapidly changing trends in the industry. Our courses are offered in modules and on part time basis to suit our busy participants and our vocational training emphasises developing competencies not only for achieving and rewarding academic excellence, but helping individuals to overcome shortfalls, whiles highlighting their individual skills" he added.

The goal of the institute according to him is to build a vibrant workforce to secure the future of the freight forwarding industry in Ghana, the sub region and the whole of Africa.

In all, over a hundred students graduated and were awarded certificates and diplomas while16 special awards also went out to deserving students.

The Hon. Kofi Brako, Member of Parliament for Tema Central who is also a former president of the institute chaired the ceremony while Mr. Frank Sarpong also a former president deputised for the FIATA vice president, Mr. Robert Kutin.