The Acting Director General of GPHA, Brigadier-General Paul Seidu Tanye-Kulono, has committed to reducing business costs at Ghana’s ports. This includes tariff reviews and the abolition of levies impacting trade. Concerns from transit traders about high taxes and operational inefficiencies are being addressed to enhance Ghana’s competitiveness as a trade hub.
Brigadier-General Paul Seidu Tanye-Kulono, the Acting Director General of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), has pledged to lower business costs at Ghana’s ports. This initiative aims to enhance market competitiveness and attract increased trade flows. His comments were made during a recent engagement with the Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana, highlighting governmental efforts to alleviate financial burdens on traders, particularly through the removal of certain levies.
As part of this initiative, the GPHA is currently reviewing the existing port tariffs, which is expected to improve operational efficiency and decrease costs. Brigadier-General Tanye-Kulono acknowledged the current discontent among transit traders, especially from Burkina Faso, who have expressed difficulty with high taxes that hinder their use of Ghana’s ports as compared to more cost-effective options in neighbouring countries.
The Brigadier-General noted that many traders opt for alternatives in Abidjan and Lomé due to lower fees and the absence of certain charges, specifically naming the COVID-19 and disinfection taxes as impediments. He stated, “Our colleagues engaged in transit trade have expressed dissatisfaction with some of these levies, arguing that they make Ghana’s ports less competitive.” Furthermore, discussions for revising these tax structures are ongoing, promising potential future adjustments to make Ghana’s ports more appealing.
Samson Asaki Awingobit, Executive Secretary of the Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana, called for the GPHA to address additional operational challenges, including high demurrage charges and issues related to truck overloading. He noted the importance of enforcing standard loading limits to prevent infrastructure damage and to promote a sustainable business environment, stressing that efficiency improvements would benefit local businesses and enhance Ghana’s status as a regional trade hub.
In conclusion, the GPHA, led by Brigadier-General Tanye-Kulono, is actively pursuing strategies to reduce the cost of doing business at Ghana’s ports through tariff reviews and the elimination of certain levies. These efforts aim to improve competitiveness, especially for transit traders, while addressing operational challenges such as demurrage charges. The collaborative approach underscores GPHA’s commitment to positioning Ghana as a preferred trade destination within the region.
Original Source: citinewsroom.com
