The Ghana Union of Traders’ Associations (GUTA) has declared that some of its members have resorted to clearing their goods in neighbouring Togo instead of Ghana because of high charges.
Speaking on The Asaase Breakfast Show on Tuesday (16 November), the public relations officer of GUTA, Joseph Paddy, said the plethora of taxes in Ghana is making it difficult for some of its members to clear their goods in the country.
“Taxes are expensive here. Recently my brother here [Johnny Mantey, the chairman of the Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders] cleared my goods for me, and for a 40-foot container, the service fee alone between the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) and the shipping line [was] about GHC9,000,” Paddy told Kojo Mensah, the host of ABS.
“When we did the research, in the sub-region, [we found that] the cost of doing business [in Ghana] is extremely high compared to other countries … Just the service charge, without the duty and freight, you are paying GHC9,000 for a 40-foot container for service fee. Over GHC4,000 goes to GHAPOHA [the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority] and over GHC4,000 goes to the shipping line …
“We think it’s an extortion, after you have paid your freight out there and then you come here and the shipping line is taking another fee here, astronomically.”
He added, “And we have been complaining to government all this while and nothing has been done … when we went to the neighbouring countries, it wasn’t so.
“So we don’t want to see another layer of cost of doing business … because when you look at the tax component it is on the higher side.”
Fred Dzakpata
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