Importers and Exporters Association reiterates call for suspension increment in port charges
26th November 2019 1:10:19 PM
2 mins readThe Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana, has reiterated calls for the suspension of the impending 11 percent tariff increment for cargo handling at the Terminal 3 of the Tema Port.
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The increment, announced by the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) is expected to take effect from 2nd December, 2019.
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Although the Ghana Ports and Harbour Authority has explained that the impending tariff increment of 11 percent is long overdue to cater for inflation, increases in fuel prices, electricity and other resources used by the port and the terminal to provide services, the Importers and Exporters Association insists it is not needed.
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The Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority in a recent statement said it has observed inconsistencies in some recent statements, publications and commentaries in the public space which seek to suggest that the Port Authority agreed for its private terminal operating partner Meridian Port Services to increase its tariff as a compromise to allow the latter cede 20% retention of container cargo volumes to the former.
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In an interview with Citi Business News, General Secretary of the Importers and Exporters Association, Sampson Assaki Awingobit, said the increment must be suspended to allow for broader stakeholder engagement.
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Read: Importers protest impending 11% increment in cargo handling charges
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“The GPHA should call on the Importers and Exporters Association and other agencies or institutions that are equally expressing their unhappiness about this 10.9 percent tariff increment to a round table to discuss and explain further. But they should not come out and respond in this direction.
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I think it is premature for GPHA to have come out, it is not good for the GPHA ,it is rather going to harm the GHPA because it is not everything that we are pushing away, we are saying that the tariff increment is baseless and we need to meet and sit at a round table and discussâ€.
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Source:Â www.citibusinessnews.com
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