Significant fall in Car Imports

Importation of vehicles through the Port of Tema dropped by about 16,000 last year.

According to the Public Agenda, statistics released by the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) indicated that a total of 35,467 vehicles were imported last year as compared to 51,454 in 1999.

The Acting Public Affairs Manager of the GPHA, Paul Asare- Ansah, explained that the drop in the numbers was also due to the decision by GPHA to stop handling such vehicles imported in semi-knocked down states.

He said most of such vehicles were imported from South Korea and assembling them in the port delayed forklifts and other equipment required for more profitable cargo handling jobs. Asare-Ansah argued that the drop in vehicle imports is good for the country since it will reduce fuel consumption and minimise road accidents. Another factor for the drop in numbers was the ban on the importation of vehicles above 10 years old. The NDC government banned the importation of such cars in a bid to cut down on the number of rickety cars on the roads. Most of such cars were seized at the ports but could not be destroyed because it was expensive to do so. Yaw Osafo- Maafo, Finance Minister announced that owners of affected vehicles will be allowed to clear them after paying custom duties and a penalty of one million cedis for vehicles below 1700cc and 3 million cedis for vehicles above 1700cc and all commercial vehicles, when he presented the 2001 budget.