The executive secretary of the Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana, Sampson Asaki Awingobet has disclosed that the board chair of Ghana Ports and Habours Authority (GPHA) is behind the tariff increment at the Tema Port.
According to him the board chair of the GPHA, Peter Mac Manu who is to protect the interest of the government and shippers is also on the board of the Meridian Port Service (MPS) which wants to introduce the 10.9% tax increment at the port.
Speaking in an interview with Happy FM’s Okatakyi Afrifa Mensah host of ‘Epa Hoa Daben’ he said, “There is a huge conflict of interest interfering with business at the port. The MPS is increasing tariffs because the GPHA board chair sanctioned this illegality.
“This is not how to implement a tax. From the budget reading a few weeks ago, the finance Minister never mentioned any tax increase so what is this,” he queried.
He cried out to the central government to step in to revert this unsanctioned tax. He said clearly that if the government of the day does not do something about this illegality the ordinary Ghanaian will suffer. “If government doesn’t interfere, products on the market will also increase. We cannot operate our business and make loses.”
“The conflict of interest now is, between the MPS and GPHA who supervises activities at the port”, he passionately sought an answer.
By: Joel Sanco