The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Shippers Authority, Prof. Ransford Gyampo, has emphasised that business is apolitical and that traders and shippers should not be seen through a partisan lens. “Traders are traders, shippers are shippers. We don’t have NPP shippers, NDC traders.”
Speaking at the 11th anniversary of the Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana and the launch of its website, Prof. Gyampo praised the Association’s Executive Secretary, Mr. Samson Asaki Awingobit, for his principled stance in advocating for the rationalisation of duties and port handling charges.
According to Prof. Gyampo, the Association’s efforts to ensure fair and economically sustainable charges are crucial, especially in the current economic climate.
He noted that some individuals and organisations have enjoyed years of unregulated operations, leading them to believe they can act with impunity.
However, Prof. Gyampo emphasised that the Ghana Shippers Authority and the Importers and Exporters Association are resolved to fight for the interests of ordinary traders and Ghanaian businessmen.
Prof. Gyampo stated, “We will bring them under our ambit of regulation to ensure that the cost of doing business is reduced in a manner that relates to the vision of President Mahama, which is to bring down the cost of doing business in Ghana.”
He added that if left unchecked, businesses may relocate due to high costs, and that it’s essential to recognise that traders and businesspeople in Ghana are not being treated fairly compared to their counterparts elsewhere.
In his keynote address, Prof. Gyampo commended the Association for its efforts in influencing policies across successive governments, ensuring that importers and exporters are recognised as key drivers of Ghana’s economic growth.
He pledged the Ghana Shippers Authority’s continued support and partnership with the Association in advancing their shared objectives, particularly in promoting accountability and meaningful reforms within the shipping fraternity.
Source: Oyerepafmonline.com/Bernard K Dadzie
