The Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana (IEAG) has received concerns from members within the importing community regarding reported delays in the issuance of Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) import codes/permits for regulated consignments at the ports.
According to affected importers, some consignments have remained uncleared because the required FDA process has not been completed, preventing them from progressing through the clearance chain and, in some instances, making it difficult for them to complete the necessary customs clearance and take delivery of their cargo.
The IEAG considers this development a matter requiring urgent attention, particularly at a time when importers are already confronted with a number of operational and cost pressures at Ghana’s ports.
The Association recognises and fully supports the FDA’s statutory responsibility to protect public health by regulating food, drugs, cosmetics, household chemicals, medical devices and other regulated products entering Ghana.
Indeed, the FDA’s own published procedures indicate that its Centre for Import and Export Control (CIEC) operates at the Tema Port and that permit control is integrated into the Integrated Customs Management System (ICUMS).
The FDA further states that verification and final release of regulated consignments can only take place when the relevant permit has been approved.
The IEAG therefore does not question the necessity of regulatory controls. Our concern is that where a regulatory process becomes delayed beyond the expected operational timeline, the consequences are borne disproportionately by the importer and ultimately passed through the supply chain.
A port clearance process is interconnected. A delay at one point can hold up several subsequent processes.
Where an importer cannot obtain the necessary FDA approval/code, the clearing agent may be unable to complete the relevant declaration and clearance process. This can consequently delay duty payment, customs release, terminal release and the physical evacuation of the container from the port.
The IEAG wishes to draw attention to the practical consequences of prolonged cargo dwell time.
When a container remains uncleared after the applicable free period, the importer may begin to incur additional costs, including, Terminal storage charges arising from extended cargo dwell time, Shipping-line demurrage, Container detention charges, additional handling, examination, documentation and administrative charges, increased financing costs, and additional trucking and logistics costs resulting from delays in scheduling cargo evacuation.
Consequently, when cargo remains in the port because one component of the clearance chain is unable to progress, the additional cost can accumulate across the entire logistics chain.
The IEAG is particularly concerned about the wider economic implications.
Importers are businesses. They cannot indefinitely absorb additional storage, demurrage, detention, financing, haulage and other logistics costs without eventually factoring those costs into the prices of goods. This creates a potential chain reaction.
At a time when businesses and consumers are already sensitive to the cost of goods and services, the Association believes that avoidable delays within the port clearance ecosystem must be addressed promptly.
The objective should be to maintain effective regulatory enforcement without creating unnecessary bottlenecks in the movement of legitimate cargo.
The Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana therefore respectfully calls on the Food and Drugs Authority to urgently investigate the reported delays in the issuance of import codes/permits and restore normal processing for compliant applications.
Specifically, we call for:
* i. Immediate identification of the cause of the reported delays and prompt resolution of any technical, operational or administrative challenges affecting the issuance of FDA codes/permits.
2. Expedited processing of pending applications involving consignments already landed at the ports and accruing storage and related charges.
3. Where the challenge is system-related or connected to ICUMS integration, the FDA and the relevant technical agencies should immediately engage and resolve the issue to prevent further disruption to the clearance chain.
4. Clear communication to importers, customs house agents and other port stakeholders regarding the nature of the challenge, affected categories of applications and the expected timeline for resolution.
5. Consideration of appropriate relief or administrative intervention for demonstrable delays attributable to regulatory or system failures, particularly where compliant importers have incurred avoidable additional costs through no fault of their own.
The IEAG wishes to reiterate that Ghana’s ports are not merely revenue collection points. They are critical gateways for trade, industry, manufacturing, distribution and national economic activity.
Every additional day that a legitimate consignment remains unnecessarily uncleared has a cost implication.
The Association therefore urges all government agencies and statutory bodies operating within the port clearance ecosystem to continuously review their processes, improve inter-agency coordination and eliminate avoidable bottlenecks.
We appreciate the important regulatory role played by the FDA and other government agencies at the ports. However, regulation and trade facilitation must operate together.
Effective regulation should protect the Ghanaian consumer while an efficient clearance system protects the importer, trader, manufacturer and ultimately the consumer from unnecessary cost escalation.
The IEAG remains committed to engaging the FDA, Ghana Revenue Authority, Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, shipping lines, terminal operators and other stakeholders to find practical solutions to challenges affecting the smooth clearance and evacuation of cargo.
We therefore call on the FDA to sit up to the urgency of the situation, address the reported bottlenecks and ensure that compliant importers are not left to bear escalating costs arising from delays within the regulatory clearance process.
The Association will continue to monitor the situation and engage the relevant authorities in the interest of a safe, efficient, predictable and business-friendly port environment in Ghana.
Signed:
SAMSON ASAKI AWINGOBIT
Executive Secretary
