Review Exemptions Act to serve intended purpose-Freight forwarders
The law, which was assented to in September 2022 to regulate the application of tax exemptions and other exemptions has however according to them, led to the obstruction of the essential movement of goods
The Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders (GIFF) wants a review of the Exemptions Act, 2022 (Act 1083) in order to serve its intended purpose.
The law, which was assented to in September 2022 to regulate the application of tax exemptions and other exemptions has however according to them, led to the obstruction of the essential movement of goods at the port.
The National President of GIFF, Mr. Eddie Akrong, has thus called for a thorough review of this law during a news conference while bemoaning the fact that it is hindering the clearance of goods by both private enterprises and those of the government.
He, however, indicated that his outfit is not against the law but rather wants further deliberations on it to smoothen the process of clearance.
Referencing the specific case of COCOBOD and the Cocoa Marketing Board, which have had a total of 910 TEUs (twenty-equivalent units) of uncleared cargo in the last three quarters of the year, he expressed concern about the accrual of demurrage charges, which is a burden on the government.
Additionally, Mr. Akrong was not enthused by the non-action on the repeated calls for the harmonization of shipping line operations and charges in tandem with equity and fairness, indicating his resolve to invoke the sub-regional mandate of businesses and allied stakeholders to deal with this.
He thus called for collaboration between the government and stakeholders in industry to address these pressing challenges.
