Government to review port charges – Finance Minister

Government is to embark on a comprehensive review of all port charges so that the nation’s ports would be one of the competitive and efficient ports in the sub-region.

Speaking to journalists in Accra after 2019 breakfast meeting on governance of the State-Owned Enterprises Sector, Mr Ken Ofori-Atta, Minister of Finance, said there are a number of issues that ought to be looked at in terms of levies, charges and duties in order to facilitate trade.

The meeting was to afford SOE’s Chief Executive Officers to discuss their business plans and challenges.

Mr Ofori Atta said issues concerning imports ought to be tackled in order to improve the condition of Ghana’s currency, adding that the country ought to concentrate on being export-oriented instead of being import dependent.

He said the issue of importing tooth picks and flowers for example are part of the issues that ought to be looked at again.

He said it is prudent that the cedi is not only stabilized, but ensure that it reverses its losses against the other currencies.

The Finance Minister expressed joy that the current three-billion Eurobond dollar road show is going well.

Mr Ofori-Atta said the government expects some fresh injection of capital such as the $750 million Standard Bank bridge facility to deal with the challenges the cedi is currently facing.

The cedi has depreciated against the dollar from GH₵ 4.9 to over GH₵ 5.5 since the beginning of the year.

Source: GNA