Mr. Michael Obiri-Adjei, Govt Director, Export and Import Frozen Meals Affiliation of Ghana (EFFAG)
The Import and Export Frozen Meals Affiliation of Ghana (EFFAG) has known as on the Ministry of Transport to reject the try and reintroduce the Cargo Monitoring Observe (CTN), also called the Good Port Observe (SPN), arguing that the system would impose vital further prices on companies and shoppers.
The affiliation, in an announcement signed by its Director-Basic, Michael Obiri-Adjei, questioned the latest marketing campaign by a bunch purportedly to be the Ghana Involved Merchants Affiliation, which is advocating for the restoration of the CTN/SPN regime.
EFFAG stated the group was unfamiliar with the broader buying and selling neighborhood and objected to its help for a system that it stated had confronted opposition from importers, exporters, transporters, logistics suppliers and civil society teams for greater than a decade.
Affiliation expresses issues about further prices
The affiliation argued that the CTN/SPN system would introduce new charges and administrative necessities for merchants with out bringing tangible advantages to cargo clearance or commerce facilitation.
In response to EFFAG, the primary function of the proposed system is to gather transportation information for the Ghana Shippers Authority (GSA), a operate the company maintains must be funded by means of the company’s present internally generated funds reasonably than by means of further charges imposed on importers and exporters.
The group additionally questioned GSA’s reported partnership with the Oceanic Maritime Logistics Institute (IOMLI), arguing that the association seems to be inconsistent with the company’s mission to guard shippers’ pursuits.
EFFAG argued that the CTN/SPN initiative seems to be designed primarily as a income technology mechanism reasonably than a commerce facilitation instrument.
Anticipated financial affect
The affiliation estimates that the implementation of CTN/SPN might value Ghanaian shippers between €187.2 million and €382.8 million yearly.
EFFAG stated the estimate was primarily based on Ghana’s 2024 container visitors of 1.7 million 20-foot equal models (TEU) and the charge construction proposed in earlier makes an attempt to implement the system.
The affiliation factors out that the calculation solely takes under consideration full container shipments and excludes different cargo classes, that means the general financial affect may very well be even higher.
EFFAG argued that the extra prices would finally be handed on to shoppers by means of greater costs of imported items.
Issues about duplication and forms
The affiliation maintained that the Good Port Observe would replicate features already carried out by present methods such because the Built-in Customs Administration System (ICUMS) and the Ghana Built-in Cargo Clearance System (GICCS).
It warned that reintroducing the system would add a layer of management to clearing cargo, growing transaction prices and probably creating delays.
“CTN/SPN doesn’t tackle any identifiable points inside Ghana’s ports ecosystem,” the assertion stated, including that the proposal dangers reversing progress in modernizing commerce and logistics operations.
Commerce facilitation issues
EFFAG additional argued that the proposed regime is inconsistent with worldwide commerce facilitation targets, together with these promoted below the African Continental Free Commerce Space (AfCFTA) and the World Commerce Group’s Commerce Facilitation Settlement.
The affiliation warned that further customs necessities might weaken Ghana’s competitiveness as a regional buying and selling hub, particularly in comparison with neighboring ports in Togo and Ivory Coast.
A name to the federal government
The affiliation known as on Transport Minister Joseph Bukari Nyikpe to reject any proposal to reinstate the CTN/SPN system and as an alternative give attention to strengthening present digital platforms and addressing long-standing issues raised by merchants.
In its suggestions, EFFAG known as on governments to:
- Resist the stress to reintroduce CTN/SPN.
- Help digitalization efforts throughout the Ghana Shippers Authority.
- Implement measures aimed toward eliminating allegedly unjustified port-related claims. and
- Proceed to boost present methods reminiscent of ICUMS for cargo monitoring and income assurance.
Deal with present commerce challenges
The affiliation inspired stakeholders to give attention to a variety of points affecting merchants, together with lowering bottlenecks at ports, eliminating unlawful claims and enhancing operational effectivity throughout the commerce and logistics sector.
EFFAG stated it stays keen to work with business associations and policymakers on reforms to scale back prices and enhance ease of doing enterprise, however reiterated its opposition to the proposed reintroduction of the CTN/SPN system.
