President of the Association of Custom House Agents of Ghana (ACHAG), Yaw Kyei, has urged haulage truck drivers to strictly adhere to laid down regulations and procedural measures relating to the transit business so as to make the country’s corridors more competitive and attractive to trade.
The ACHAG boss said the rampant scenes of accidents involving trucks carrying transit cargo is a hinder to government’s quest to increase the volume of transit goods that are carted through the country’s ports.
Addressing a gathering of truckers and other key players in the transport and trade industry in Tema, he tasked haulage truck owners and drivers to play their role efficiently to facilitate an efficient haulage system in the country.
“Road transport remains the major mode of transportation in the country as it serves an array of purposes for travelers, traders, and industries.
Accidents on our roads, beyond the loss of lives and properties which must be avoided at all cost, renders our trade corridors uncompetitive and ultimately affects the port choice decision of transit shippers,” he said.
He added: “As major players in the transit chain, your [truckers] compliance to the regulations of the trade at both domestic and sub-regional levels will ensure that we have a safe corridor for trade.
Your role in the overall achievement of the objectives of international trade and in particular, the growth of the country’s trade business cannot be taken too lightly.”
The workshop which was organized by the Ghana Shippers’ Authority (GSA) brought together all the relevant stakeholders and regulatory bodies in the transit trade chain including the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), GRA Customs, Ghana Highways Authority (GHA) and the MTTD of the Ghana Police Service.
Mr. Kyei commended the leadership of the GSA for showing strong will in addressing the nagging challenges within the country’s transit trade value chain.
“These activities, no doubt, provide the platform for discussions on some of the pertinent issues affecting inland transportation of international trade cargo and deepens the trade facilitation credentials of the Authority,” he said.
He added: “Much as the focus was on transit drivers, the attainment of the national aspirations for transit trade development requires the commitment and involvement of all stakeholders along the corridor.”