The Executive Secretary of the Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana, Mr.Sampson Asaki Awingobet has said that the Meridian Port Services(MPS) have no right to ask for an increase in tariffs at the port as a way to make up for their loss.
He was speaking in an interview with Happy FM’s Kwame Afrifa Mensah on the ’Epa Hoa Daben’ show.
“The MPS had to start operations two years ago but they had delayed because they were constructing. And now that the prices of petroleum and other things have increased, they are asking for an increase in tariff to make up for their loss”, he said.
According to him, the approval of these tariffs by the Ghana Ports and Harbour Authority (GPHA) is very disturbing because the budget read by the Finance Minister earlier this month did not introduce any new tax or tariff.
He added that when these tariffs are imposed, Ghanaian importers are the major shareholders of the burden that comes along with it.
Importers and Exporters will soon begin paying the proposed 10.9 percent increase in port tariffs to enable the developer, Meridian Port Services (MPS) to recoup the investment cost within the agreed period.
By: Alberta Dorcas N D Armah