Stakeholders in the shipping trade have called on sector actors to promote Shipper friendly Insurance Schemes to cushion players.
They also prayed for the ban of the exportation of raw rubber which was affecting the businesses of GREL and other local factories that add value to the commodity for export.
The Bank of Ghana must also be flexible on demands placed on Letters of Credit (LOC) and allow for transactions with CFA to advance Ghana’s competitiveness in the trade.
The stakeholders told Professor Ransford Gyampo, the newly appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Shippers Authority in Takoradi in the Western Region.
The industry gurus revealed how the shipping lines were frustrating the system with undue charges and bemoaned the bad nature of roads in transit trade while, calling for a uniform regulatory agency to ensure that shipping processes were easier.
Other issues of critical concern were the overloading of the transit trucks putting pressure on the roads while, causing unnecessary accidents on the roads.
At the Port of Takoradi, the Director of the Port, Mr. Peter Amo-Bediako congratulated the CEO on his appointment and pledged the Port’s readiness to engage to grow the sector.
He described the Takoradi Port as strategic to the economy of Ghana and thus must be assisted to grow.
He said turnaround time had significantly improved with many expansion projects to ensure that larger vessels could berth at the port.
Mr. Amo-Bediako, however urged the Chief Executive Officer to implore the Ministry of Interior to speed up processes on explosives and hazardous goods.
Professor Gyampo, overwhelmed by their concerns promised to form a coordinated agency engagement for intimate discussions on the concerns raised for an improved business environment.
He said the Authority would not allow the inactions of some value chain members to put extra financial burden on importers resulting in unwarranted demurrages.
Professor Gyampo said the country was bent on promoting international trade that offered a win -win opportunities to all players.
He mentioned a planned engagement with stakeholders to come out with a legislative instrument for the implementation of the Shippers Acts adding, “when we are ready, we will request that you send competent people with experience to make rich contributions.”
