GCNet laments ‘unnecessary’ delays in port clearance

The General Manager at the Ghana Community Network Services Limited (GCNet) Alwin Hoegerle has taken a swipe at the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) over the delay in granting permits and exemptions to freight forwarders.

According to him, the development has been cited as one of the major causes of the heavy congestion at the country's ports especially the Tema Port.

Mr. Hoegerle revealed that the situation has also contributed to the huge demurrage some freight forwarders had to pay before their goods are cleared from the country’s ports.

In an exclusive interview with Citi Business News, Alwin Hoegerle impressed on authorities to rectify the issue and cut down on the high cost of conducting business at Ghana’s ports.

“Every year approximately 200,000 exemptions and permits are issued within the clearance process and one of the challenges is the MDA's delaying the permits and exemptions for these freight forwarders. MDA's should commit to their service agreement that within at most three days, an exemption or permit will be processed and approved or otherwise.”

According to him, facilitating the processing of the exemptions and permits also means there will be “no demurrage incurred as the goods will not keep too long at the ports to create congestions.”

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By: Norvan Acquah – Hayford/citibusinessnews.com/Ghana