To prevent Ghana from losing its competitive advantage to regional ports such as those in Lomé and Abidjan, the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) is advocating for the elimination of VAT charges on transit goods.
According to the Acting Director General (DG) of GPHA, Brigadier-General Tanye-Kulono, the move would position Ghana to attract more foreign business and enhance its economic standing by making it a significantly more competitive transit hub in the West African sub-region.
In addition to making Ghana's ports more attractive for international trade, he argued that removing VAT on transit cargo would create a substantial number of job opportunities, support the government’s ongoing efforts to stimulate economic growth, and align with its 24-hour economic policy.
The Acting DG made these remarks during a familiarisation tour of the Authority by the Minister of Transport, Hon. Joseph Bukari Nikpe, in Tema.
He noted that the Authority was encountering operational challenges that were affecting port efficiency. Chief among these was the frequent breakdown of scanners at the Meridian Port Services (MPS) terminal, which caused considerable delays during container processing. Additionally, the deteriorating condition of access roads and the urgent requirement for dredging at Tema Port were highlighted.
The GPHA received assurances from Transport Minister Joseph Bukari Nikpe that the government would uphold the competitiveness of Ghana's ports.
“In my view, we have no business charging for items that are not destined for our economy. This is a valid point for us to consider,” he said.
The Minister concurred that the COVID-19 tax required reassessment and gave assurances that the Ministries of Finance and Transport would deliberate on possible revisions.
To better align government policy with the needs of the maritime sector, the Minister also visited the Tema Shipyard and Meridian Port Services, accompanied by officials from the GPHA.
