Business News of Monday, 28 May 2018
Source: citinewsroom.com
2018-05-28
File photo
Starting this Friday – June 1, 2018, all exporters to Ghana will be required to comply with the Cargo Tracking Notes (CTN) policy before they can be allowed entry into Ghana and subsequent clearing of consignment of goods.
The CTN requires that any exporter to Ghana, uploads details of the consignment onto a provided platform to allow the GRA reconcile duties paid with its locally generated data.
It comes after an initial suspension in February 2018.
The Cargo Tracking Notes is to allow the GRA fix loopholes in cargo under-declaration and under valuation at the ports.
If you export any goods to Ghana from say China, you are expected to provide details of the consignment of goods headed to Ghana unto the CTN platform which will be relayed to the GRA in real time.
Initially, the importers and freight forwarders strongly opposed it; they explained the move will add unto their cost of operation.
But after three months of suspending the program, a Tax Advisor to the Commissioner of Customs, Christian Sottie tells Citi Business News the cost will now be borne by the GRA.
“People were complaining that the fee being charged will be passed unto the importer so it was suspended but as it stands now, the GRA is going to bear the cost in the provision of the shipment information,” he explained.
No additional cost to be incurred by importers
With charges pegged between 100 and 200 dollars per consignment of goods, the obvious question is how the GRA is going to fund the payment.
Though there are concerns of possible upward review of tariffs, Mr. Sottie denies such claims.
“We take duties and levies on imports; but the tariffs have not been changed yet…We believe that this policy will improve our classification and revaluation.”
Businesses laud new CTN plan
For now, the importers and clearing agents have been receptive to the new plan.
They are however looking forward to an official communication and implementation plan from the GRA.
A Technical Committee Member of the Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarder, Johnny Mantey said,
“Those were our concerns so we just need sensitization and briefing…I am sure the various stakeholders will have something to say about this. If for nothing at all, the shipping lines may have to inform their partners at the port of loading,” he suggested.
Following the publication of the re-introduced policy, the businesses have barely a week to start abiding by the CTN.