Importers of perishable and non perishable goods have been given between three days and two weeks to clear their goods from the Tema Port or risk confiscation by the state.
According to a new directive, by the special operations unit under the office of the chief of staff, effective today April 9th 2014, all perishable goods, duty paid or not paid must be cleared within three days.
Also non perishable goods, duty paid or not paid must also be cleared within two weeks.
According to a member of the special operations unit Dr. Clement Apaak, this is part of a decongestion exercise at the Tema port.
Meanwhile the taskforce has advised importers and agents to take note of the customs, excise and preventive service (management) law, 1993.
As outlined in section 117:(1) where goods of a perishable nature are deposited or are required to be deposited in a state warehouse the proper officer may sell them immediately by public auction and (2) where any good, other than goods of perishable nature , are deposited or are required to be deposited in a state warehouse , the proper officer may sell them by public auction after fourteen days’ notice by publication in the gazette or in the national newspapers, if they are not entered for warehousing or delivery from the state warehouse within fourteen days after deposit or such further period as the proper officer may allow , and all charges paid for removal, freight , rent and all other expenses incurred in respect of them.
The vigorous exercise to clear the Tema port of over-stayed goods/cargo is a collaboration involving GPHA, GRA, customs, Ministry of Transport, National security, Office of the Chief of Staff.
Meanwhile the Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana says it is not aware of the details of the directive.
The Executive secretary of the association Sampson Asaki said, “To the best of my knowledge I heard that it was going to be for frozen foods and that is what I know. For what you’ve just added that wasn’t discussed with me and I’m not aware of that”.
By: Rabiu Alhassan/citifmonline.com/Ghana