Brigadier-General Paul Seidu Tanye-Kulono, the Acting Director-General of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), has appealed to the Transport and Finance Ministries to scrap the COVID-19 and the Value Added Tax (VAT) levies on transit cargo.
Brigadier Tanye-Kulono said removing the two levies would significantly enhance Ghana’s competitiveness as a preferred transit hub in the West African sub-region.
Making the appeal when Mr Joseph Bukari Nikpe, the Minister of Transport, paid a working visit to the GPHA, he stressed that such a move would position the country to attract greater international businesses and strengthen its economic standing.
The Acting Director-General (DG) explained that removing VAT on transit cargo would not only make Ghana’s ports more attractive to global trade but also create substantial job opportunities, supporting the government’s ongoing efforts to stimulate economic growth and align with its 24-hour economy policy.
Brigadier Tanye-Kulono noted that the transit trade market was highly competitive, with neighbouring ports such as Lome and Abidjan constantly vying for business, emphasising that any disruption in Ghana’s port operations, particularly through the imposition of additional levies, could result in businesses shifting to alternative regional ports.
Again, “since the cargo in question’s destination is not Ghana, removing the COVID-19 and VAT levies would not only boost business but also generate additional employment opportunities,” he said.
He revealed that a joint team, comprising of personnel from the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and GPHA, had recently travelled to Lome to assess their port systems.
This, he said, followed a similar visit to Abidjan, where the team studied operational practices to help enhance Ghana’s own port competitiveness and streamline its operations.
Touching on his vision for the GPHA, he mentioned that digitalisation of operations, building organisational resilience, and fostering a corporate culture grounded in discipline, fairness, and teamwork would be his focus.
Brigadier-General Tanye-Kulono expressed optimism that GPHA would be moved to new heights of operational efficiency and customer satisfaction with these initiatives and support from government agencies.
Mr Joseph Bukari Nikpe, the Minister of Transport, responding to the appeal, expressed his commitment to working closely with all relevant stakeholders, especially the Minister of Finance, to facilitate the removal of the VAT and COVID-19 levies.
Mr Nikpe said the Ministry would soon look at the governing laws of the GPHA, bureaucracies, rates, and fees that were increasing the cost of doing business at the port.
He stressed that President John Dramani Mahama’s leadership remained dedicated to reviving the country’s economy, adding that the GPHA was one of the key agencies to unlock Ghana’s economic transformation.
He pledged his support for the DG, management and staff of the Authority, urging them to turn all their challenges into benefits for the common good of the country.
GNA
