The Ports of Tema and Takoradi are expected to implement the first port duty rule by end of 2018 to regulate the movement of imported goods along Ghana’s transit corridor to landlocked countries.
As part of this policy intervention, Customs officials from Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali will be stationed at the ports to inspect imported goods bound for their respective countries. Duties will also be paid accordingly.
The Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia made this known on Monday 30thJuly, 2018 during the opening ceremony of the 39thCouncil and Conference of the Port Management Association of West and Central Africa (PMAWCA) held at the Ghana Shippers’ House in Accra.
He bemoaned the loss of revenue to the economy in the smuggling of goods through transit trade and the false declaration of destinations to avoid the payment of duties at the ports.
The first port duty rule is expected to significantly improve Ghana’s transit trade regime and also shore up revenue for the country.
The Minister of Transport, Kwaku Ofori Asiamah, said government will factor in the inputs made by the various countries at this year’s PMAWCA gathering in its agenda to making the ports of Ghana more competitive in the subregion.
The PMAWCA conference which run from 30thJuly to 2ndAugust brought together directors of ports from 15 West and Central African countries and representatives from the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and other stakeholders in the maritime industry.
