Reliable information gathered by The Moment indicates that vehicle importers who transport their wares through the Tema Port are having hard time clearing their cars as they have to contend with the huge fees they are made to pay to some unscrupulous task force personnel.
This paper can say on authority that members of a task force stationed at the Port believed to be a Presidential Task force have made it their practice to ensure that importers go through hell before clearing their goods.
Investigations conducted at the Tema Port revealed that these task force personnel always plant their seats at the entrance to the Port and demand GH?400.00 on each car that leaves the port premises.
It has been gathered that payments made to these task force officials come without receipts and so the said monies definitely go into personal pockets.
Although officials at the port claimed the development goes on at the blind side of management, other sources also say, they are aware of the ongoing fraud since the issue had been reported to them on several occasions but nothing has been done to halt the unfortunate situation.
Speaking to some importers, they confirm the incident and stated that the situation has been ongoing for a long time and is affecting their business since they find it difficult clearing their vehicles from the port in time.
?Because of what we are made to pay at the gate, the GH?400.00 on each of our cars, it sometimes take us over two months to get our cars cleared from the port. We have to wait until we have enough money to settle the task force,? an importer said.
According to the importers, there is no need for the task force officials to be demanding money from them since all payments are during the payment of their import duties and clearance charges.
It is however sad that people posted to the port to ensure maximum revenue to the state, are rather milking the country dry leaving Ghana at a loss.
This development according to our checks is beginning to scare other investors who are using our ports as conduits of transfer of goods to Ghana.
Speaking to a foreign investor who deals in cars and car parts, he expressed grave dissatisfaction at the way and manner these task force officials who are tagged ?President task force? use their position and authority under the president to extort huge sums of monies from business men.
?Imagine I sometimes bring about forty to fifty cars to Ghana and I have to pay GH?400.00 on every car. This is ridiculous. But if you don?t pay, you will not be allowed to leave the yard,? he said.
Importers who can no longer put up with this development have expressed their frustration and called on government to intervene and halt this unfortunate development that is putting the nation at a loss.
