Packed food sellers banned from hawking inside Tema port

Tema, Oct. 25, GNA - Management of Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) have banned hawking of cooked "packed" foods inside the port of Tema as part of measures to streamline the security network at the port, Mrs Esther Gyebi-Donkor, Public Relations Manager (PRM) of Tema Port told journalists on Thursday.

Those who flout the directives would be made to pay a penalty of one million cedis or in default handed over to the police for further action.

She however, stated categorically that the penalty, which is contained in the Authority's regulations is not intended to take money from people but rather to serve as deterrent to others.

Mrs Gyebi-Donkor said the move, which falls under the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS) impressed on all ports to tighten their security and this was implemented as far back as 2004 from which time stringent security measures have been put in place.

The PRM explained that port regulations prohibits hawking but at certain point in time a few packed food sellers were allowed entry into the port so that they could sell to the workers to enable them have easy access to their lunch without coming out of the port to look for food.

"The regulation has been in existence but we gave the opportunity to a few fast food sellers because we wanted the comfort of our employees to have their lunch so we identified a few area where they could group to sell to them".

She however, said it was noticed that they took undue advantage of the opportunity offered them and were misusing it by either not selling the food any longer or frequenting the port unnecessarily hence its withdrawal.

Mrs Gyebi-Donkor said apart from the port being a restricted area because heavy equipment are handled there and also to ease congestion this time around, it does not require many importers to check on the arrival of their goods since everything could be processed through their Clearing Agents who could enter the port with just one on two people. In line with the ISPS Code, Close Circuit Televisions have been placed at vantage points while all employees are made to wear identification cards, among others measures. 25 Oct. 06