Government Asked To Dialogue With Importers

The Concerned Agents and Importers Association, has appealed to government to dialogue with all stakeholders on the importation of goods through the country�s harbours before increasing taxes on imported goods.

According to the Association, increments in taxes on imported goods without stakeholders� contribution or knowledge have become a worrying trend at the country�s sea ports.

Mr Ekow Arko-Palmistic, Spokesperson and a member of the Association, told the Ghana News Agency on Thursday that, there has been a frequent change in the Harmonizing Systems of Coding, which is used to determine the duty to be paid on an imported item.

According to him, �changing this coding without consulting the stakeholders creates misunderstanding between agents and importers�.

Mr Arko-Palmistic explained that an agent might have charged an importer based on a particular code only to get to the port and realize that it has been changed.

He stated that even though the Association was aware that government must generate revenue �it must not do it with impunity and expect Ghanaians to endure the hardships that come with such increments�.

Enumerating other problems importers and agents faced at the Tema Harbour, he mentioned high import duties, general congestion at the port and delays in content and clearing, which leads to frequent demurrages.

He added that these challenges coupled with other operational issues, including alleged bribery and extortions by some public officials at the harbor, was negatively affecting business transactions at the ports.

Mr Arko-Palmistic announced that the Association was preparing to embark on a demonstration dubbed �Agents and Importers abrε� to register their displeasure at the happenings at Ghana�s sea ports.

Source: GNA