GUTA says the allegations of rot at the country’s ports must be tackled dispassionately.

[contextly_sidebar id=”KiF4nOCOAy6CvLlFIxRhl47zdylmMvaD”]The AGI has complained about what it described as unfair trade practices being perpetuated at the ports by various officials.

The Association also called for the intervention of government in the activities at the ports because the issues threaten the success of major policies such as the one-district, one factory, as well as plans to create an industrialized economy and reduce unemployment levels in the country.

But speaking to Citi News, the President of GUTA, Dr. Joseph Obeng said the AGI was being unfair.

Although he believes it is practically impossible to cheat the system, he said he was open to looking into the problem in a more rigorous manner.

“If we have to be blunt, it is very unfair because these days, it is practically impossible for somebody to outdo customs. The AGI, themselves, import about 90 percent of their products. Do they undervalue them? So let’s go through their imports and see how much they also pay.”

“If there is a problem with clearing, then we have to talk about it holistically. But not that others people will behave as if they are the saints of the state and others being the devils of the state. It is unfair,” Dr. Obeng said.

Importers, freight forwarders reject claims

Importers and freight forwarders dismissed claims that they engage in malpractices at the ports.

The President of the Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders (GIFF), Kwabena Ofosu Appiah explained that the strict clearing process doesn’t allow such illegalities.

“The Technical Services Bureau does not take the documents that we present hook, line and sinker; this includes the declared intention before it is allowed into the system. We have another crack team of customs officers at the compliance level who have records that have piled up as a result of transactions that have passed through the system.  After all of these you go onto the field and meet another set of customs that is if you are channelled to go through the examination,” he told Citi Business News.

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By: Sixtus Dong Ullo & Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post AGI’s claims of ‘rot’ at ports unfair – GUTA appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

This, he said, would enable small and medium-sized companies to create the needed job avenues for growth in the sector.

According to him, investment in that subsector was neglected last year, due government’s failure to award the contract for the manufacture of school uniforms and sports kits to them under the Free SHS Programme.

This has brought about the increment of cost production in the sector.

“We really went through some financial difficulties last year when the government’s directive did not award our companies with schoolhouse jerseys and sports kits contract. I am making an appeal to the government to intervene to avoid job cuts and redundancy” he explained.

He, therefore, appealed to business owners and residents from the area to offer job opportunities to the youth by investing in them and giving them entrepreneurship skills.

Mr Asare Yeboah made this known as an end-of-year party organized by his outfit to take stock of their activities during the year and plan their way forward.

“We have to believe and invest in our youth in the region because they are equally gifted as those in the big cities. We also have to give contracts to the manufacturing companies in the region for they are capable of producing quality products which meet the international standards, no wonder we won an award at last year’s AGI awards” he appealed.

He reiterated his commitment to employ the youth in the region and offer them free training in farming, fashion and design.

McKenzie Clothing was awarded at the 2017 Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) awards as the best company in Garments, Textiles and Leather.

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By: Mashoud Kombat/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Clothing manufacturer calls for more Gov’t investment in SMEs appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

NDC Member of Parliament for Ningo Prampram, Sam George, said the meeting will see the minority assess the country’s economy and proffer solutions to the government.

He said, “we are Ghanaians and we know of expectations of what the government should be telling us. We know what the economic situation of this country is today. We are putting all of this out so that it will aid the government in ensuring that as a country we have a more realistic budget that appeals to the needs of our constituents.”

“This is supposed to be seen as a novelty where the minority seeks to highlight the challenges that we see in the economy and go as far as proffer some solutions and policy alternatives hopeful that the government will be listening enough and caring enough to take on board in good faith, the suggestions that we will be making,” he added.

The 2018 budget, which is the second to be read by the Akufo-Addo government, is expected to focus largely on job creation.

The President last week hinted of a reduction in the cost of electricity to be captured in the budget.

Whilst addressing the Association of Ghana Industries Awards (AGI) dinner on Saturday night, President Akufo Addo said, “I’m glad that businesses are no longer burdened by the erratic power supply that wrecked our nation in recent years. Dumsor, thank God, appears now to be the thing of an unlamented past. Another of the stars of the government, the Energy Minister, Boakye Agyarko, is to be commended for the sterling work he’s been doing so far on this matter,” the President said.

“Furthermore, the government is moving to set in motion the process for the review of electricity tariffs and in the budget to be read by the brilliant Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta on Wednesday, I’m sure we will hear some good news in this regard.”

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Minority to assess economy ahead of 2018 budget appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.