The freight forwarding fraternity in Ghana has called on Customs to reveal the standard operating procedures (SOPs) reserved for its auction regime at the ports of Ghana.
The Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority has also been urged to implement these SOPs in indiscriminate fashion to ensure fairness within the auction regime.
These remarks were made on Eye on Port by the Chairman of the Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders (GIFF), Tema, Forwarder Johnny Mantey, and the Acting President of the Customs House Agents, Ghana (CUBAG) Nana Fredua Agyemang Ofori-Atta while evaluating the Customs Auction Regime.
The Chairman of the Tema Chapter of GIFF, Forwarder Johnny Mantey said customs auction are currently a rarity.
He said: “Anytime goods are gazetted, 70percent of those goods are allocated to the confiscation and assets committee, and the 30percent is left for the Ministry of Finance and the Commissioner General’s office. Within that 30percent, whatever is left is approved for auction.”
“There are situations were importers are able to pay duty at the last end and because of the delay in raising revenue to pay the said duty, their attracted rent fees, so after paying the duty and while looking for the mopping up funds to clear the rent that has acrued, before they realize, their containers are found at one of the terminals half empty and carting things out,” the Acting President of CUBAG, Nana Fredua Agyemang Ofori Atta, cited.
According to the executives of GIFF and CUBAG, the processes for the customs auction at the ports have become one that appear to be shrouded in secrecy, breeding confusion among importers.
According to the GIFF executive, such syndicates are derailing efforts that have been put in place to ensure efficiency and fairness within the treatment of uncleared cargo at the ports.
Taking his turn on the subject, a former Commissioner of Customs, Wallace Akondor explained that the dynamic arrangements for abandoned goods at the ports reflect government’s prerogative to redeem the revenue inherent in such cargoes.
He emphasized that goods left for auction or allocation per the law, is an indication of abandonment of cargo, and fundamentally, a customs offense.