GIFF introduces ID badge to eliminate quacks

Tema, March 10, GNA- Any Clearing and Forwarding agent who does not wear approved identity badge would not be allowed to transact business at the Long Room and Tema Port.

This measure is aimed at eliminating quacks from the Ghana Institute of Freight and Forwarders (GIFF), whose image had being tarnished by some boys in their midst, Mr Carlos Ahenkorah, district chairman of GIFF said on Wednesday.

He was speaking at the launching of the badge at the Port. He said a lot of offences such as forgery, fraudulent acts and dishonest extortion of money from customers were reported to the secretariat by the Customs Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) and said "we are surprised because we thought those times were past".

Mr Ahenkorah said some members also give out declaration documents to their customers to do their own validation at the long room resulting in having about 10 people representing one company at the same time. The district chairman said the system would be stringently enforced and has mandated the CEPS to choose any private security company to man the gates of the long room at the expense of the GIFF.

Brigadier General Richardson E. Baiden, Commissioner of CEPS urged the executives of the GIFF to be mindful of their activities in order not to incur the displeasure of partners at the port and rather close their ranks and work together to facilitate trade and investment in the country.

He said CEPS is prepared to create a new image for itself through effective collaboration with key stakeholders whose work involves the provision of assistance to importers/exporters in the clearance and shipment of goods.

He expressed the hope that the introduction of the badges would project the image of CEPS.

Mr Kofi Danquah, Assistant Commissioner of CEPS at Tema, who performed the launching, called for discipline and compliance of the norms and practices of the association.

He urged the executives of GIFF to control the issuance of the identity badges by limiting them to only recognised employees and called for honesty of all port operations to help step up revenue generation for the nation.

Mr Frank Sarpong, national president of GIFF inaugurated a five-member executive for the association.