Some Ghanaian importers and exporters have said they will demonstrate today, Tuesday, 3 December 2019 against the government over an 80 per cent tariff hike at the ports.
The Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) on Monday, 2 December 2019 announced the new local-handling charges.
Speaking in an interview with Benjamin Akakpo on the Executive Breakfast Show (EBS) on Class91.3FM, a representative of the group of angry importers and exporters, Mr Daniel Owusu-Danso, a Clearing Agent, said: “This morning, we want to have a small demonstration at the port”, adding: “Yesterday, the thing started in the afternoon, so, we got few numbers; we informed them that we’ll stage a demonstration this morning for the authorities to know that we are not happy about what is going on at the ports”.
“They can’t just wake up overnight and say they have increased our charges by 100 per cent without informing any stakeholders or anybody”, he complained.
The angry exporters and importers also indicated that they will push for a reduction in the tariff.
“They have to reduce it; they can’t increase the charges by 100 per cent; this is the first time I’m hearing this. At least, 10 per cent, 12 per cent they have been increasing the charges, nobody is complaining, but this one, 100 per cent; we don’t understand. They have to reduce it or they have to reverse it and let us know that maybe in two months’ or one month’s time, you’ll increase our charges so that we’ll prepare for that,” Mr Owusu-Danso stated.
