Frozen Foods Importers oppose proposed return of Smart Port Note

The Exim Frozen Foods Association of Ghana (EFFAG) has called on the Ministry of Transport to reject any attempts to reintroduce the Cargo Tracking Note (CTN), also known as the Smart Port Note (SPN), warning that the system could impose significant additional costs on businesses and consumers.

In a statement signed by its Executive Secretary, Michael Obiri-Adjei, the association expressed concern over reports that the CTN/SPN system could be revived following advocacy by the Concerned Traders Association of Ghana.

EFFAG questioned the group's support for the policy, noting that the CTN/SPN has faced opposition from importers, exporters, freight forwarders, logistics operators, and civil society organisations for more than a decade.

According to the association, the proposed system would introduce new charges and administrative requirements without delivering measurable improvements in cargo clearance or trade facilitation.

"The CTN/SPN does not solve any identifiable problem within Ghana's port ecosystem," the statement said.

EFFAG argued that the primary purpose of the system is to collect shipping data for the Ghana Shippers' Authority (GSA), a function it believes should be funded through the authority's existing resources rather than additional fees imposed on traders.

The association also raised concerns about the reported collaboration between the GSA and the Inter-Ocean Maritime and Logistics Institute (IOMLI), suggesting that the arrangement appears inconsistent with the authority's mandate to protect the interests of shippers.

According to EFFAG, the CTN/SPN initiative appears to be more focused on revenue generation than trade facilitation.

The association estimated that implementation of the system could cost Ghanaian shippers between €187.2 million and €382.8 million annually. It said the estimate was based on Ghana's 2024 container traffic volume of 1.7 million Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) and fee structures proposed during previous attempts to introduce the policy.

EFFAG further argued that the actual economic impact could be higher because the estimate excludes other categories of cargo.

It warned that any additional costs imposed on importers and exporters would likely be passed on to consumers through higher prices for imported goods.

The association also maintained that the Smart Port Note would duplicate functions already performed by existing systems such as the Integrated Customs Management System (ICUMS) and the Ghana Integrated Cargo Clearance System (GICCS).

It cautioned that reintroducing the policy could increase bureaucracy, raise transaction costs, and create delays in cargo clearance processes.

EFFAG urged the Minister for Transport, Joseph Bukari Nikpe, to reject any proposal to revive the CTN/SPN system and instead focus on strengthening existing digital platforms, eliminating unlawful port charges, and improving efficiency within Ghana's trade and logistics sector.

The association reiterated its willingness to collaborate with policymakers and industry stakeholders on reforms aimed at reducing costs and improving the ease of doing business but maintained its opposition to the proposed reintroduction of the CTN/SPN.