The Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana (IEAG) has called on Parliament to reject any report presented to it by the Transport Ministry as representing the outcome of stakeholders’ engagement on the Shippers Authority Amendment Bill.
The Association said, such a report does not entirely represent the views and inputs of the various associations in the shipping/Maritime sector.
This is contained in a press release issued by IEAG and signed by the Executive Secretary, Samson Asaki Awingobit.
“The call by the Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana is based on the premise that the Transport Ministry failed in its engagement with the various stakeholders in the shipping sector to meet all leaders of the various associations in the sector. It Is alarming to note that associations such as the Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana, the Trade Advocacy Group Ghana (TAGG), Kumasi Business and Shop Owners Association, and the Food and Beverage Association of Ghana (whose name were on the list of stakeholders to be engaged but were never invited), were all sidelined in the said stakeholders engagement conducted by the Transport Ministry on different dates to solicit their views and input on the 2024 Shippers Authority Amendment Bill,” portions of the release read.
They alleged that the bill, “will give some sweeping powers to the Ghana Shippers Authority to regulate the shipping sector when passed.” Therefore, “cannot be treated with an armchair-like-engagement tactics as adopted by the Transport Ministry.”
“ We are told by some industry players who were opportune to be in those engagements, that the bill itself smacks of several anomalies, which could end up defeating the very purpose we as industry players have been pushing for,” the IEAG further alleged.
They described the approach of the Ministry as appalling.
“It Is very appalling for an association like the Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana which has been drumming home the need to amend the Shippers Authority Act and give them more powers to work effectively, will be sidelined together with other key players on such a bill.
We urge Parliament to ensure views and inputs of all associations and stakeholders in the Shipping/Maritime sector are captured in the engagement report to be presented to them by the Transport ministry,” Mr Awingobit wrote.