AFRICA

Ghana tackles port smuggling

8 years ago

Ghana’s government plans to implement a new measure to tackle smuggling in Ghana’s ports arising from diverted transit goods allegedly meant for landlocked countries including Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger.

Under the First Port Duty Rule, customs officials of the landlocked nations will be stationed at Ghana’s ports, and the importer will be directed to the appropriate country desk to pay, if the transit item(s) in question is genuine.

Speaking at the 39th Council and Conference of the Ports Management Association of West and Central Africa (PMAWCA), vice president of the Republic, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, said: “So much smuggling is taking place through “Transit” trade to neighboring (sic) countries such as Togo, Burkina, Niger and Mali. Not only does Ghana lose, the other countries also lose revenue when unapproved routes are used for example.

“For the most part, the goods never leave Ghana. Ghana will therefore be introducing the First Port Duty Rule hopefully before the end of the year. Under this rule, the customs authorities of our neighboring countries will have presence at our port.

“So if an importer claims they are going to Mali or Burkina Faso, they just go to the Malian or Burkina desks and pay their duties.”

Studies have shown that many of such goods are either unloaded and sold inside Ghana or sent through unapproved routes to the said destinations, thereby depriving both Ghana and the eventual destination the necessary revenue, stated the PMAWCA.