The Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana has expressed displeasure about the planned “no duty no exit policy” to be implemented at the MPS Terminal 3 as announced by the finance minister on Thursday, March 24.
The finance minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, in his press conference, listed this policy as one of initiatives government will embark on imminently to plug revenue leakages as it seeks to boost the economic fortunes of the nation.
But speaking on GPHA’s Eye on Port, the Executive Secretary of the Association, Sampson Asaki Awingobit, described the policy as a demonstration of poor technical briefing on port matters.
“I see no reason why an importer would pay his duty at MPS and still allow my container to go Golden Jubilee Terminal, Reefer Terminal or Tema Bonded Terminal and stay for days for me to come back and pay demurrages and rent before I can take it to my warehouse.
That would not work; no importer will pay duty first. If that is going to happen there is going to be chaos and overcrowding at MPS. Clearing in the country is already challenging as we know it,” he lamented.
He said the Minister has to be briefed properly by technocrats on the nuances of the maritime trade and port operations in order to help guide his decision making on such sensitive matters.
Sampson Asaki cited operational inefficiencies, safety, among other things as some of the repercussions of such a decision and called for immediate reversal of the policy.
He said he will officially engage the Minister, the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, Customs, and other institutions relevant to this particular matter on the way forward.