Ghana bedeviled with over aged cars

0

The Deputy Minister of Transport, Joyce Bawah Mogtari has appealed to players within the shipping industry to report cases of overcharging by some customer officials at ports and harbours across the country on time.

She made the appeal on Wednesday in Accra whilst delivering an address on behalf of the sector minister, Dzifa Attivor at the launch of the 40th Anniversary of the Ghana Shippers? Authority (GSA), which is expected to be celebrated in 2015 under the theme, ?Forty years of providing dedicated services to shippers in Ghana: Achievements, Challenges and Opportunities.?

According to her, overcharging by customers? agents remains a critical challenge of the shipping industry and that all stakeholders within the sector, particularly exporters and importers need to collaborate with the Transport Ministry to tackle the issues.

She pointed out that cumbersome custom clearance procedures and low service standards among shipping service providers also hinder progress within the sector.

?The ministry is not oblivious of the fact that the shipping industry in Ghana faces a number of challenges. The proliferation of charges at our ports, cumbersome custom clearance procedures, unacceptable service standards among shipping service providers have all contributed to the increase in the cost of doing business at our ports,? she said.

Continuing, she noted that ?it is important to mention that we should not throw our hands in despair but work assiduously with all stakeholders in the industry to ensure that the appropriate administrative and support systems including trade facilitation measures, negotiation and monitoring of charges administered at the ports are put in place to ensure competitiveness and an improved turnaround time at our ports.?

The minister commended GSA for its contributions to the development and success of the shipping industry since its inception in 1974 and reiterated government?s commitment to protecting and promoting the interest of shippers to enable them contribute significantly to the country?s economy.

The Chief Executive of Ghana Shippers? Authority, Dr. Kofi Mbiah, in a speech, observed that GSA, has in its quest to address the problems of shippers, established Shipper Committees in all the 10 regions of Ghana through which the problems of shippers are brought to the fore and addressed.

Relief

He disclosed that in January 2015, the Ghana Shippers Authority would in accordance with its mandate begin the implementation of the ?Advanced Shipment Information (ASHI) which is meant to provide information on shipments to shippers before the arrival of their cargoes, facilitate clearing of their cargoes and reduce the payment of huge demurrage and rent costs.?

The Executive Chairman of Ghana Community Network (GCNet), Dr.  Nortey Omaboe, delivering the keynote address, stressed the need to create an effective Public Private Partnership (PPP) within the sector so as to promote development in the industry.

The Ghana Shippers? Authority was established in April 1974 and subsequently inaugurated on 18th February 1975.

Its main objective is to protect and promote the interests of Ghanaian shippers.

BY Melvin Tarlue(Email: [email protected]

Send your news stories to [email protected] Follow News Ghana on Google News

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here