GUTA condemns newly introduced fumigation service charge at  ports

The Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA), has denounced newly introduced fumigation service charge at the country's entry and exit points saying some of these new taxes are making the cost of doing business in the country increasingly unbearable. 

In a statement signed by its General Secretary Alpha Shaban, GUTA described the fumigation charge as an unnecessary intrusion into the clearance process at the Ports which must be stopped immediately.


GUTA does not understand why the importer and exporter must be charged for the fumigation of the container which is part of the shipping line's equipment. 

It noted that, fumigation if it should be done, must be carried out at the container's country of origin. 

It stated that the proposed fumigation charge, which is to take place at the entry and exit points at the ports, would seriously negate the Vice President's paperless policy objective of clearing cargo within four hours at the port. 

This is because the fumigation process is going to be an additional physical impedance to the clearance process at the ports. 

It said Shippers are still grappling with the scanning process, which contributes to congestion at the ports only for an additional process such as fumigation to be added. 

The Union wondered why a service to be rendered in Ghana should be charged in US dollars, adding that this is an unnecessary exposure of Ghana's economy to foreign exchange pressure which must not be allowed. 

According to the Traders Union, if the exercise is to prevent cross border transfer of diseases, then they do not see why the fumigation is only on the exterior and not the interior of the container or vehicle as they are being told. 

GUTA is also not sure what happens to the cargo container or vehicle from the stevedoring process through the transfer, holding areas and scanning before fumigation is carried out. 

It said if the fumigation exercise cannot guarantee the transfer, spread, outbreak of diseases, and even epidemics, then the process is an unnecessary intrusion into the clearance process at the port, and must be stopped immediately.

GBCONLINE
---DECRYPTED---