The report that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has underscored the need for Ghana to make a systematic and conscious effort towards self-sufficiency and the new freight forwarding and clearing agents’ charges for the next two years reached by the Ghana Shippers Authority and freight forwarders are some of the leading stories in the Ghanaian press on Tuesday.The Graphic reports that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has underscored the need for Ghana to make a systematic and conscious effort towards self-sufficiency.

According to him, developing Ghana’s self-sufficiency and food security was one major challenge.

He also bemoaned the fact that a lot of money was spent on importing, especially foodstuffs, into the country.

“We spend a lot of our money importing foodstuffs into Ghana, and it has been going on for too long. And I think now is the time that we are going to have to make this systematic effort to be self-sufficient and depend on ourselves for things that we eat,” he said.

President Akufo-Addo made the statement when he received a delegation of investors from Thailand, led by the Executive Chairman of the Jospong Group of Companies (JGC), Mr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong, and the Honorary Consul of Ghana in Thailand, Dr. Sicha Singsomboon, on Friday, December 30, 2022, at the Jubilee House in Accra.

The delegation, which comprised twenty (20) investors, were in Ghana to cement a Ghana-Thailand Rice Project being spearheaded by the JGC, and to also explore other possibilities of investing in Ghana’s agriculture sector.

The President expressed excitement at the partnership and collaboration between Ghana and Thailand in the rice sector.

“Countries like yours [Thailand] and others have done it. And if you have done it, others can also follow and emulate your example. And I am excited by the idea of getting into bed with people who are known to have succeeded,” he said.

In learning from Thailand, President Akufo-Addo was upbeat that Ghana will be moving towards a system of agricultural inputs that will reduce its dependence on agricultural chemicals imported from countries such as Russia and Ukraine.

The newspaper says that the Ghana Shippers Authority (GSA) and freight forwarders aiding importers to clear goods at the country’s point of entry have agreed on a new freight forwarding and clearing agents’ charges for the next two years.

The new rates, which takes effect January 1, 2023, affects activities at Ghana’s two seaports (Tema and Takoradi ports), Kotoka International Airport (KIA), as well as Aflao and Elubo borders.

It is in accordance with the Ghana Shippers’ Authority Regulation, 2012, (L.1.2190) which mandates the authority to negotiate charges of shipping service providers on behalf of shippers (importers and exporters), Graphic Online’s Maclean Kwofi reports.

The rates were reached after negotiations and extensive deliberation between the GSA and Committee of Freight Forwarder Associations (CoFFA) representing the forwarders and clearing agents.

During the negotiation, the proposed individual line items and justifications were thoroughly examined by the GSA to ensure that the levels of the charges were commensurate with the service being provided.

The negotiated rates which would last for the next two years are to guide importers and exporters to plan their operations.

It is also to check the cost of doing business in Ghana and ensure price predictability.

Speaking at the signing ceremony in Accra, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the GSA, Benonita Bismarck, encouraged the forwarders to abide by the negotiated rates to create a congenial business environment.

“We have gone through a tough time to get to these rates, which as we agreed, is commensurate with the services you render to importers and exporters.

“What we hope for is that your members would not charge more than this but feel free to charge less per the relationship you have with your customers,” she said.

The Vice President of the Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders (GIFF), Peter Mensah, who signed on behalf of the freight forwarders, expressed gratitude to the GSA for the openness and fairness at all levels of negotiation.

The Graphic also reports that the Industrial and Commercial Workers’ Union (ICU) Ghana, has encouraged the government to be pragmatic in initiating measures that would further help reduce prices of fuel in 2023 to lower the cost of transporting goods and services across Ghana.

The General Secretary of ICU, Morgan Ayawine who announced this as part of a New Year message to Workers said it was equally important for government to institute measures in to ensure the stabilisation of the Ghana cedi against major trading currencies.

This, he indicated, would not only reduce the high cost of living in Ghana, but would also motivate workers to remain dedicated to their core responsibilities of supporting accelerated growth of Ghana.

“Government should sustain the measures initiated to ensure the stabilisation of the cedi against other major trading currencies to aid doing business in Ghana, and to reduce prices of goods and services to ameliorate the economic hardship imposed on Ghanaians,” Mr Ayawine noted.

Mr Ayawine said since government is the single largest employer in Ghana, it is important for it to devise measures that would ensure fair distribution of the national cake for a reciprocal gesture of workers to increase productivity and revenue generation.

“We call on government, the single largest employer and other employers to ensure equitable distribution of the national cake for a reciprocal gesture of workers and increase in productivity,” he stressed.

He, however, implored workers to remain committed and dedicated to their core responsibilities to make 2023 a memorable year.

“The year 2023 has the prospect of being successful and we as workers and nation builders must play our roles with zeal and dedication to make it successful,” he advised.