The Exim Frozen Foods Association of Ghana (EFFAG) urged the Ministry of Transport to reject attempts to reintroduce the Cargo Tracking Note (CTN), also known as the Smart Port Note (SPN) system. The association argues this system would impose significant additional costs on businesses and consumers.
EFFAG estimates the CTN/SPN system could cost Ghanaian shippers between GHS 2.4 billion (€187.2 million) and GHS 4.9 billion (€382.8 million) annually. This estimate is based on Ghana's 2024 container traffic volume of 1.7 million Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) and previously proposed fee structures. These additional costs would likely be transferred to consumers through higher prices for imported goods, impacting household budgets.
This opposition comes amidst a campaign by a group called the Concerned Traders Association of Ghana advocating for the CTN/SPN's return. EFFAG questioned this group's unknown status within the wider trading community. The association has consistently opposed the system for over a decade, along with other key stakeholders like importers, exporters, and logistics operators. The reintroduction of such a system contradicts Ghana's broader efforts to streamline trade and reduce the cost of doing business, which is crucial for economic competitiveness.
Michael Obiri-Adjei, Executive Secretary of EFFAG, signed a statement outlining the association’s concerns. EFFAG believes the CTN/SPN system’s primary purpose is to collect shipping data for the Ghana Shippers’ Authority (GSA) and generate revenue. The association argues the GSA should fund its data collection through its existing budget, not by imposing new fees on traders. EFFAG further questioned a reported partnership between the GSA and the Inter-Ocean Maritime and Logistics Institute (IOMLI), noting it seems inconsistent with the GSA’s mandate to protect shippers’ interests.
If reintroduced, the CTN/SPN could add new charges and administrative requirements for traders, potentially slowing cargo clearance. Such a system duplicates functions already handled by existing platforms like the Integrated Customs Management System (ICUMS) and the Ghana Integrated Cargo Clearance System (GICCS). This duplication risks adding bureaucracy and delays, reversing progress in modernising trade operations.
The CTN/SPN also conflicts with international trade facilitation objectives, including those promoted by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Ghana's competitiveness as a regional trade hub could suffer compared to neighboring ports if additional clearance requirements are introduced. The Ministry of Transport, led by Minister Joseph Bukari Nikpe, must carefully consider these implications.
EFFAG recommends the government resist pressure to reintroduce the CTN/SPN and instead strengthen existing digital platforms. They also urge enforcement of measures to eliminate illegitimate port-related charges and improve overall operational efficiency in the trade sector. These steps are vital for Ghana's trade landscape and economic stability.