Port inspection delays increasing cost of doing business – ICC Ghana

The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Ghana has highlighted that delays at Ghana's ports during inspection procedures are significantly increasing the cost and time taken to conduct business. Emmanuel Doni-Kwame, Secretary-General of ICC Ghana, emphasized this issue during a media forum organized by the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA).

Despite Ghana's ratification of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement, many containers continue to undergo inspections, contributing to the delays in clearing goods. This situation impacts importers, freight forwarders, and other businesses reliant on efficient port operations. Doni-Kwame proposed the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) programme as a solution, aiming to reduce unnecessary inspections by trusting businesses with a proven compliance record.

He suggested that businesses with lower-risk profiles should seek to qualify under the program to allow for faster clearance of their goods. ICC Ghana intends to engage the Customs Division to identify companies that could qualify as Authorized Economic Operators. Doni-Kwame also called for better coordination among agencies involved in joint inspections, suggesting that the agency responsible for the longest delay should lead in coordinating inspection schedules.

This would help reduce congestion and improve turnaround time at the ports. Ultimately, Doni-Kwame emphasized that Ghana's competitiveness in regional and international trade is partly dependent on the efficiency and predictability of its logistics systems.