The Chairman of the Paga District Chapter of the Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders (GIFF), Wenawome Duriyem Aborah, has called on politicians to refrain from politicising concerns raised by freight forwarders over the implementation of the Publican AI system.
His remarks follow a four-day nationwide sit-down strike declared by freight forwarders, which began on Tuesday, April 14, and is expected to end on Friday, April 17. The industrial action is aimed at pushing for a clear operational policy framework to guide the implementation of the new system.
Speaking exclusively on A1 Radio, Mr. Aborah clarified that the action by freight forwarders is not politically motivated, but rather a response to operational challenges affecting their work.
“A lot of people are misunderstanding the issue. Some are interpreting it as a political attempt to undermine government revenue mobilisation efforts, but that is not the case,” he said.
He stressed that freight forwarders have always played a critical role in supporting government revenue generation and remain committed to that mandate.
According to him, the introduction of the Publican AI system has brought significant anomalies, particularly in the valuation of goods and the calculation of duties.
“We have no problem with the system generating duties, but when values that used to be reasonable are suddenly doubled or tripled, then there is clearly a problem,” he explained.
Mr. Aborah cited instances where duties on imported goods have surged disproportionately under the new system, creating frustration among importers and clearing agents.
He further noted that despite several attempts to engage authorities on these concerns, there has been little response, prompting the decision to embark on the strike.
“We are only asking for dialogue. The system is meant for people to use, and if users are facing challenges, there should be an avenue to address them,” he added.
The GIFF chairman also expressed concern over delays in clearing goods, especially at border points such as Paga Border, where the system relies on centralised processing.
He explained that declarations submitted at the border are processed in Accra, leading to delays that attract additional costs, including penalties and demurrage charges, often at no fault of importers.
“For perishable goods, these delays are very problematic. You end up paying penalties because the system is slow, not because you delayed,” he lamented.
Mr. Aborah also highlighted the lack of a clear and accessible appeal process under the Publican AI system, making it difficult for users to challenge questionable valuations.
Touching on comments by some political figures regarding the strike, he urged restraint and called for constructive engagement instead of rhetoric.
“Some politicians are making statements that do not help the situation. This is not about refusing to pay taxes. It is about ensuring fairness and accuracy in the system,” he said.
He warned that if the challenges are not addressed, the ultimate burden would fall on consumers, as increased costs incurred by importers would be passed on in the form of higher prices of goods.
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