Importers, Exporters want Single Window Project reviewed

The Exporters and Importers Association of Ghana have called on the incoming New Patriotic Party (NPP) government to review the National Single Window (NSW) project and correct some anomalies within the system immediately they assume the reins of power next year.

The association claim there are some discrepancies in the invoicing of their products with the West Blue Consult and the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), the operators of the NSW project.

The Executive Secretary of the Association, Sampson Awingobit Asaaki, in an interview with B&FT said his members are unhappy about the price quotations being used by the revenue authority which seem higher than invoice collected from source and submitted to be assessed for tax and duty to be paid on.

“Some of the importers especially have complained that when they submit an invoice to be assessed through the single window project, the revenue collectors (customs) refuse to use the price quotations on the invoice. They have resorted to quotations on some kind of website claiming the importers are under declaring. This poses a huge challenge to importers.”

“This is not fair, as it’s impossible to forge invoice of goods and products from Europe especially. I think it is important that the new government takes a second look at the single window project and ensure that the importers and exporters are being charged the right taxes and levies at the port,” he added.

Mr. Awingobit Asaaki, also added that they have picked up signals that, the terminal handling charges may be reintroduced as shipping lines have put together a lobbyist group to find ways of getting the charge approved.

He said that the business associations especially the importers and exporters will resist strongly; threatening to embark on a demonstration if government make any attempt to bring back the terminal handling charges which they see as double taxation.

“We will resist any attempt by the outgoing government or the incoming one to have the abolished terminal handling charges reintroduced in Ghana. We know the shipping lines have money and have put together a lobbying group to work hard to have the THC brought back but I must say that it will not happen under our watch in Ghana,” he told the B&FT.

He also called for the withdrawal of the increase in tax stamp which commenced in March 2016.

Parliament in 2013 increased the tax stamp which was meant to increase government revenue and to curb importation and smuggling of cheaper goods that unfairly compete with indigenous industries.

This received a lot of backlash leading to its review by government.

Government also introduced the ECOWAS Common External Tariff (CET) this year which did not go well with a number of business groups. The traders fear the constant escalation in taxes will collapse their businesses.