AGI supports cargo tracking note, Asks govt not to kowtow to agitations
The Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) has thrown its weight behind the cargo tracking note (CTN) policy, describing it as a possible solution to the various trade malpractices facing the country.
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As a result, a former President of AGI,
“We at AGI have no problem with it because we think that it is a chance also to enhance manufacturing activities,” he said in an interview.
“We think that it helps address the same issue that we have been going on again and again that people should not under-declare their imports because it undermines local production.
“And if this is a system that will help us get the correct values by ensuring that what people report to their own countries as export values are the same we get as our import values, why are people unhappy that it is being implemented?” he asked.
Correct values
Beyond promising an increase in revenues generated from the ports for the state, the astute industrialist, also the managing director of the Tropical Cables and Conductors Limited (TCCL), said the CTN system could eliminate the influx of cheap and counterfeit imports to the benefit of the economy.
Consequently,
As agents of trade, he said the GIFF
“
“A policy which is supposed to ensure that the correct values are used in transactions is a government prerogative to undertake and why should we allow people who are mere agents to decide what policy should be used?” he asked.
The GIFF had earlier sought the support of the AGI in getting the government to back down with the implementation of the policy
“In any case, if some nuisance taxes have been removed and electricity tariffs have been reduced, which makes our work easier, why shouldn’t we also support areas that will enhance government revenue?
“But the basic thing in all of this is it levels the playing field for imports and domestic
Wrong tool for
In a separate interview, however, the President of the GIFF,
He said the implementation of the CTN would infringe upon aspects of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) regulations, which sought to protect
“We are saying that granted the exporting country’s documents can even be admitted, how are you admitting it?” he asked in a September 3 interview.
“You are asking the foreign freight forwarder to go onto the customs platform outside of this country, do a declaration, print, scan and upload onto your platform. Don’t you think that whatever mischief you’re trying to cure can be reintroduced onto your platform?
“We are saying that the mischief you’re trying to cure will just be exported from Ghana to other countries,” he stressed.
“I’m sure you know what happens in China. When you go buy let’s say an air conditioner in China, the manufacturer can even ask if you want him to put a Samsung or Philips label on it. He will even ask you what price you want to put on it,” he said and, thus, wondered how the CTN could help address such a lapse.
He indicated that rather than burdening freight forwarders and other stakeholders with new bureaucracies, the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority should rather collaborate with its sister customs in other countries to help ensure information exchange and transparency.
“This will ensure that no penny is being paid and there is no additional bureaucracy. When we talk like this, are we hiding something?” he asked.
Controversy around CTN
The decision to suspend the implementation followed agitations by the GUTA and freight forwarders against the system, describing it as a bureaucratic regime that will raise
It is not clear if the government will go ahead to implement the policy after October 13. –GB