Clearing of goods at the entry points of the Country is becoming very cumbersome. This is a concern raised by many traders and importers who use the borders as entry points for their business activities.
According to the traders, they are preparing to stage a demonstration against government for failing to call some DICs to order.
The development has created growing tension at Aflao and Akanu border as the traders are claiming that the process of inspection involving sighting cargo and verifying documentation reveal no work difference between inspecting but because the FOB value (where the seller pays for transportation of the goods to the port of shipment, plus loading costs.
According to them, they have been rendered stranded at the Aflao and Akanu borders the bureaucracy that they have to go through to have their goods cleared are becoming more and more cumbersome nowadays.
The angry traders/importers also indicated that the private sector has already, over the years, been over burdened with various taxes and policies which are leading to the collapse of these businesses, especially the SMEs, and that if the DICs continue to frustrate their activities, it will not auger well for the growth of businesses.
They indicated that businesses in Ghana have been battling with the increment of VAT from 12.5% to 176.5%, introduction of 17.5% financial services levy, 2% of levy on imports, depreciation of the Cedi and payment for Conformity assessment programmes to over 14 state institutions, and that BIVAC?s introduction of higher verification fees is killing them the more.
They alleged that BIVAC International develops its own database value hence making importers pay higher verification fees.
They have also alleged that goods with FOB below the US$5000 mark BIVAC claims to be sending these transactions to Accra before clearance, this they lamented cause undue delays in clearing their goods.
An importer who spoke to this reporter on anonymity claimed that BIVAC has refused to allow sub stations to issue the local inspection report to the importers.
They also alleged that BIVAC gives out different outcomes with the same set of factors and conditions at different times, ?This situation creates serious doubts in our minds,? a freight forwarder said.
According to them the introduction of the Advanced Shipment Information System (ASHI) and a tax stamp would bring additional cost to doing business in the country, saying that they are tired of being over burdened with the numerous taxes and levies.
?Our businesses are dying slowly. Indeed we are angry! In the past years many businesses have painfully laid off workers as a result of the situation,? an importer stated.
In view of this, they appealed to the President to intervene and work at reducing the cost and time of doing business in the country and called BIVAC and other DICs whose activities and policies are creating blocks to the growth of their businesses.
?Mr. President, our businesses are going down the drain and it is not for nothing that imports reduced by 30% at the Tema Ports last year. We must continue to be a preferred destination of choice for doing business rather than losing it to our neighboring countries,? another aggrieved importer noted.
