Cargo throughput up by 10%

Cargo throughput increased by 10 percent in 2012, rising from 18 million tonnes in 2011 to 19.7 million tonnes, Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Shippers’ Authority (GSA) Dr. Kofi Mbiah has disclosed.

 

He said the Authority observed that during an election year exporters and importers adopt a wait-and-see attitude which usually leads to a possible reduction in cargo throughput, but added that the situation was not experienced in 2012.

“The Authority was able to promote and protect the interest of exporters and importers in the country through various means; such as resolution of shippers’ complaints, providing information to shippers through its publications, and collaborating with the private sector to develop infrastructure for the benefit of the shippers.

“Our benchmark for the resolution of shippers’ complaints was to resolve 80 percent of the complaints shippers bring before the Authority. Out of the numerous complaints we received for the year 2012, such as high clearing charges and damage to cargo, we were able to resolve about 90 percent, with the remaining 10 percent at various stages of investigation and resolution.

“In our bid to reach out to shippers in all parts of the country, we have established the Shipper Complaints and Support Unit at strategic locations to provide assistance to shippers at the borders. 

We have such centres at Elubo, Aflao, Kotoka International Airport, and Takoradi Port,” he said.

Dr. Mbiah outlined some infrastructural projects currently ongoing which, when completed, will address the concerns of industry players.

“The construction of Accra Shippers’ Centre is near completion and is expected to house the headquarters of GSA, and also serve as a brokerage hall and a one-stop shop for players in the maritime industry.

“In addition, the Takoradi logistics platform, which is near completion, is expected to provide a warehousing facility for the oil and gas sector,” he said.

Dr. Mbiah said the Authority faces a challenge wherein shippers tender fictitious documents to the Destination Inspection Agencies; and when these are detected, the shipper has to start the entire process again, thereby defeating the purpose of fast clearance. 

This, he said, leads to unnecessary delays that cause decongestion at the ports, and the shipper in most cases ends up paying rent and demurrage charges which could have been avoided.

He added that the GSA will intensify its shipper education drive with special focus on the small-scale importers and exporters; such as the spare-parts dealers, importers of electrical appliances, and mango, pineapple, and shea-butter exporters.