The Ghana Shippers Authority (GSA) and the Plant Protection and Regulatory Services Department (PPRSD) have intensified their collaboration to support the operations of shippers of agricultural produce.
The two organisations have, in the past, organised stakeholder sensitisation fora to educate shippers of agricultural produce on the new developments in the sector.
They were now considering the possibility of re-introducing the fora as well as exploring other ways to step up their efforts to improve their respective operations.
This came up when a team from the GSA paid a working visit to the PPRSD at Pokuase in Accra last Wednesday.
It was part of efforts to keep constant touch with key stakeholders and come up with contemporary ways to serve the interest of shippers.
Head of Shipper Services and Trade Facilitation at the GSA, Monica Josiah, said the visit was to enable the two bodies exchange ideas on how to facilitate trade for importers and exporters.
She used the opportunity to sensitise some new staff of the PPRSD on the GSA’s mandate and reminded them of the collaborations that have happened in the past.
Touching on demurrage, she said it was avoidable hence the Authority would continue its education to disabuse the minds of importers who held the view that goods could not be cleared within the seven-day free period.
On his part, the Acting Director of the PPRSD, Eric Bentsil Quaye, commended the GSA for being proactive in providing essential services to shippers.
He said the agency would solidify collaborations with the Authority in a bid to improve activities in the sector.
He noted that innovative means were being developed to support the implementation of their core mandate which was to inspect and certify the import and export of all agricultural produce.
BY TIMES REPORTER
