The Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority is proposing an upward review of some tariffs at the country\u2019s ports in July this year.<\/p>\n
[contextly_sidebar id=”jnpPHN0iPDWjJbYkZE1ArcY1AI9565O1″]Vessel handling charges and stevedoring charges will see an upward review of 4percent whiles receipt and delivery charges with regards to imports handling will be increased by 20 percent.<\/p>\n
This implies that importers will have to pay more for goods and services from the ports once vessels berth.<\/p>\n
Head of Business Development at the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, Alice Torkornoo told Citi Business News discussions are currently ongoing between stakeholders for the new tariffs to take effect in due time.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2019We are discussing with our stakeholders to upwardly review the vessel handling charges and stevedoring charges by 4percent; the stevedoring is the vessel operation i.e that is where we either receive cargo into the vessel or deliver cargo out of the vessel.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
According to Alice Torkornoo, there have been a number of discussions with stakeholders on the proposed move which is expected to boost port operations.<\/p>\n
Online vessel booking system<\/strong><\/p>\n Already, the GPHA has set July for the introduction of an online vessel booking and allocation system to improve efficiency and simplify business activities at the country\u2019s ports.<\/p>\n Head of Business Development at the GPHA, Alice Torkonoo told Citi Business News the new system will come at no cost to the importer.<\/p>\n ‘It is already being piloted because berthing meetings which hitherto was held thrice a week and what we are looking at doing is to do it online and so negotiations with stakeholders is ongoing and will be completely done before the implementation of the new system.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n Reaction from Freight Forwarders<\/strong><\/p>\n In a related development, the Concerned Freight Forwarders and Traders Forum of Ghana want the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority to put the intended tariff increase on hold since it will cripple their business.<\/p>\n President of the group, Dennis Amfoh Sefah told Citi Business News consumers will have to pay more since importers cannot bear the cost of importation alone.<\/p>\n He says the current economic condition does not warrant such an increase.<\/p>\n \u2018\u2019What we are proposing to GPHA is to suspend this increment for now so that if the economic situation in the country gets better, we can then go ahead with it.\u2019\u2019 said Dennis Amfoh Sefah.<\/p>\n The freight forwarders argue that consumers will bear the brunt of the high cost in goods as importers will be forced to increase prices of commodities.<\/p>\n Dennis Amfoh Sefah believes, \u2018\u2019the importer is going to divide his cost and put it on the items and commodities and you and I are going to suffer.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n –<\/p>\n By: Lorrencia Nkrumah\/citifmonline.com\/Ghana<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority is proposing an upward review of some tariffs at the country\u2019s ports in July this year. [contextly_sidebar id=”jnpPHN0iPDWjJbYkZE1ArcY1AI9565O1″]Vessel handling charges and stevedoring charges will see an upward review of 4percent whiles receipt and delivery charges with regards to imports handling will be increased by 20 percent. This implies that […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":22599,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[],"tags":[23,21,4],"yoast_head":"\n