His Excellency President John Mahama addressed management and staff of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) during the first anniversary of the Ghana National Single Window (GNSW) and also launched a manual that will assist importers and exporters to do documentations electronically. Currently the import and export process is documented manually and involves a lot of paper work.
Launching the manual at the first anniversary of the Single Window Policy in Accra, President Mahama, was optimistic that the switch over will result in about a hundred percent increase in direct foreign investment in the next few years.The document is known as Ghana’s Import, Export and Transit Process Manual.
According to the president all stakeholders involved in the facilitation of trade in the country should brace themselves for loads of work in the coming years. He encouraged them to be on top of their game in order to become a preferred destination for trade and investment.
At the occasion, the president took the opportunity to draw the minds of international businesses especially shipping lines to adhere to the policies and structures that govern the smooth operation of trade and investment in the country.
He called attention to the illegal charges being meted by shipping lines in the form of Terminal Handling Charges (THC). The president did not mince words and directed the immediate halt of the THC. He called on all who are willing to do business in Ghana to cooperate with the bodies in charge of ensuring that their stay in Ghana is smooth. Nevertheless he lauded their services and the huge role they have played over the years in turning the economy of Ghana around. President Mahama conceded that there was more room for improvement in completely turning the economic tides of Ghana around.
The president further took advantage of the occasion to tour the facilities of the customs division of GRA. He was impressed with the Customs Technical Bureau Services and lauded the officers for their hard work to help improve trade facilitation in Ghana.
