The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Ghana has raised concerns over delays in port inspection procedures, saying they are increasing the cost and time of doing business in the country.
Mr Emmanuel Doni-Kwame, Secretary-General of ICC Ghana, said the delays could be reduced through stronger coordination among agencies responsible for inspecting goods at Ghana’s ports.
He made the call at a media forum organised by the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) in Tema.
Mr Doni-Kwame said although Ghana had ratified the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Trade Facilitation Agreement, a significant proportion of containers continued to undergo inspections, contributing to delays in the clearance of goods.
He said the situation had financial implications for importers, freight forwarders and other businesses whose operations depended on efficient and predictable port processes.
Mr Doni-Kwame identified the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) programme as an important mechanism for reducing unnecessary inspections and expediting the clearance of goods belonging to compliant businesses.
He said the programme could strengthen trust between Customs and businesses with proven records of compliance, allowing low-risk consignments to benefit from faster clearance procedures.
He said ICC Ghana would engage the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) to identify businesses that could be supported to develop the capacity required to qualify as Authorised Economic Operators.
“Businesses with lower-risk profiles should be supported to qualify under the programme so that their goods can move through faster clearance channels,” he said.
Mr Doni-Kwame also called for improved coordination among agencies involved in joint inspections at the ports.
He proposed that the agency responsible for creating the longest delays should take the lead in coordinating inspection schedules to enable all relevant agencies to inspect consignments simultaneously.
That, he said, would help reduce duplication, ease congestion and improve the turnaround time for cargo at the ports.
Mr Doni-Kwame said the efficiency and predictability of Ghana’s logistics systems were critical to the country’s competitiveness in regional and international trade.
He said reducing avoidable delays at the ports would therefore not only lower the cost of doing business but also enhance Ghana’s attractiveness as a trading and logistics hub in the region.
