As part of efforts to protect and promote Ghana’s international trade, the Ghana Shippers’ Authority (GSA) and the Chamber of Automobile Dealership Ghana (CADEG) have taken steps to develop a Standard Operations Procedure (SOP) for importers of vehicles into the country.
This follows several complaints by members of CADEG over the situation where cars imported are later alleged to be stolen, despite the payment of the required Duties to the relevant Regulatory Agencies including the Customs Department of the GRA and INTERPOL as part of the Clearing process.
In the light of this, the GSA met with the leadership of the CADEG to gain a deeper understanding of the challenge and thereby find avenues to resolve their concerns effectively.
President of CADEG, Nana Adu Bonsu said that the situation does not only affect their businesses, but it creates a negative image for Ghana on the international trade scene. “There should be some form of collaboration between the Agencies in Ghana and those abroad to ensure that cars imported through the right means are not reported as stolen”, he noted.
A Senior Officer of the Shipper Services and Trade Facilitation Department of the GSA, Mrs. Rhodalyn Djanitey said that the Authority is ready to collaborate with CADEG and other stakeholders to develop a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for importers of automobiles to streamline their activities and by that, to avoid such unfortunate occurrences.
“We are ready to develop a Standard Operating Procedure to guide importers. We plan to inculcate the position of CADEG in the final document because you are already in the business and can provide vital information, which we believe will provide solutions to the challenges you face in your import operations”.
She also said that the GSA is exploring the possibility of a nationwide sensitization of importers on the SOP when it is completed.
The leadership of CADEG were happy about the initiative and asked for the involvement of more stakeholders to generate an effective document.
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