AGRA Schools Freight Agents

As part of measures to promote efficiency and reduce errors in customs operations, a four-week training workshop has been organized for over 90 supply chain managers in freight forwarding across the country.

The workshop, under the auspices of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Customs Division started on Monday, November 28 and will end on December 23, 2011.

Speaking at the opening section, Sector Commander for Tema Collection, Assistant Commissioner Alhaji Yusif Adam Ibrahim said the training has become crucial due to many complaints by importers about delays in clearing goods.

'We realized that most of the custom house agents lack the requisite training in business transactions and customs proceedings,' he said.

The course, he indicated, was a stepping stone to enhance their performances when duty calls.

Assistant Commissioner Ibrahim said the course would also help them enhance their relationship with clients, as they build up respect and tolerance with each other.

With the knowledge acquired after the training, he added, some of them could proceed to the Maritime University to pursue further courses.

He said the training service has been held by CEPS for some years now with the first batch for this year, made up of 90 participants, finishing last Wednesday.

The participants are being taken through topics such as Risk Management, Harmonizing Commodity/HS Code, Computation of Tax and other Levies, Duty Drawback, Customs Laws, Operations of Shipping Agents, Operational Requirement of Customs, House Agent, GCNet/GCMS, the Front End System, Transit/Transshipment, Temporary Import, among others.

Resource persons have been drawn from the Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Ghana Shipping Council.

By Henrietta Abayie