Business in Tema Port suffers setback on election day
Importers and agents deserted the Tema Port on election day, Wednesday, December 7, 2016 and brought business activities at the port and its environs to a halt.
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A tour of the port should that most of such offices were closed, with a few importers rarely visiting the documentation vetting centre, popularly referred to as the “Long Room,” to work on their documents for approval by Customs.
The usual hustle and bustle that characterised business activities was virtually absent.
The Director of Port at the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), Mr Jacob Kobla Adorkor, told the Graphic Business that the authority had received seven vessels made up of four general cargo vessels, two container vessels and a fish carrier which had docked at the port.
“Vessel operation works are ongoing on the aforementioned vessels that docked at the Port on Monday and Tuesday but importers and their agents are not presently available to work on their cargoes,” Mr Adorkor said.
Port Charges
While the absence of agents to clear their cargo could create some kind of congestion at the cargo holding terminals, Mr Adorkor allayed such fears, describing it was an opportunity for the GPHA to rake in rent revenues.
He suggested that once the cargoes had been put on rent at the authority’s facilities, importers would have to pay the GPHA.
Customs
The Tema Sector Commander of Customs, Mr Confidence Nyadzi, also told the Daily Graphic that following the deployment of officers from the command to complement the police on election supervision duties, a skeletal staff had been left behind to attend to importers that may come to the documentation centre during the day.
"Although activities are slow, we are hoping that importers may come after casting their votes to transact business so as to reduce the work load in the coming days," Mr Nyadzi said.
The Chairman of the Tema Chapter of the Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders (GIFF), Mr Edward Akrong, in a separate interview also alluded to the slow pace of business at the port.
Asked whether members of the GIFF who may have been affected by the charges would pass on the cost to the importer and the consumers, Mr Akrong indicated that since the day was not declared as a public holiday, freight forwarders had no right to pass on the cost that may accrue in rent and demurrage charges.
He appealed to the importing public to endeavour report to the GIFF and Customs if any such illegal charges were passed on to them for redress.
Business has since normalised with brisk business underway.
Writer’s email: delarussel@gmail.com