The Ghana Shippers Authority has told Citi Business News it will not relent on its moves to implement the Advance Shipment and Information Systems (ASHI).
According to the Shippers Authority ASHI, when implemented will help in reducing the cost of doing business at the country’s ports.
[contextly_sidebar id=”zdwXTeVixPV7ptaIVhTzxm1AOX9CoACz”]The Ghana Shippers Authority has announced it implement ASHI from the 1st of March 2015.
Director General of the Ghana Shippers Authority Dr. Kofi Mbiah had earlier tod Citi Business News importers and exporters will benefit significantly from the Advance Shipment and Information Systems as it will reduce the incidence of payments of high rent and demurrage charges.
But some importers have raised concerns that the implementation of ASHI will make the of clearing goods more cumbersome at the country’s ports and have threatened to resist its implementation.
According to them its implementation must be postponed.
But Head Of Public Relations at the Ghana Shippers Authority, Fred Asiedu-Dartey told Citi Business News their calls are unwarranted.
’If you have a system that is going to be introduced to significantly reduce this level of expenditure which is avoidable then I don’t know where the issue of cost as the main argument for opposing the ASHI comes in’’
Fred Asiedu-Dartey adds that the authority engaged importers and exporters, CEPS, GHIPPS before the announcement of the implementation of the new system.
‘’In fact some of the concerns that the shippers raised have significantly shaped the L.I as it is today but way back in October 2014, the Ghana Shippers Authority wrote to all the stakeholders again and we went through another round of engagement and sensitization and so I would be very surprised if any stakeholder within the maritime industry say they were not consulted or involved in the passage of the law and then the implementation of ASHI’’
The Advance Shipment Information System when implemented would be mandatory for all shipment for the seaports of Ghana including transit cargo.
This implies that every bill of lading for maritime shipments to Ghanaian seaports will need to be covered by a validated ASHI document.
By: Lorrencia Nkrumah/citifmonline.com/Ghana