Mahama shocked over excessive import levies and fees at ports

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer, former president John Dramani Mahama, has expressed shock at the amount of duties and fees imposed on commodities processed at Ghanaian ports.

Speaking to the Ghana Union Traders Association (GUTA) members, Mr. Mahama emphasized the heavy financial burden that importers bear, citing the price of a 2023 Lexus car as an example.

Mahama described in detail the several taxes that are levied on importers during his speech, including as an import VAT, processing fees, and a 20% import tariff.

Additionally, importers must deal with network fees, related VAT, a COVID charge, and fees from organizations like the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MOTI) and the Ghana Shippers Authority.

Mahama listed the numerous and often overwhelming fees that importers must pay, including import tariffs, VAT, processing fees, ECOWAS Levy, vehicle examination fees, and network charges. COVID, Ghana Shippers Authority fees, Ghana Education Trust Fund, Ghana Education Network charge, African Union Import Levy, COVID Health Recovery Levy, Import NHIL, network charge NHIL, GHS disinfection fee, MOTI import declaration fee, Special Import Levy, Ghana Export-Import Bank Levy, and IRS charges.

“A person imported a car and I am just looking at the charges, this is a 2023 Lexus, these are the charges; 20% import duties, import Value Added Tax (VAT), processing fee, ECOWAS Levy, Vehicle Examination Fee, network charges, network charges VAT, network charged COVID. Oh! I am shocked,” he stated.

“… Then Ghana Shippers Authority, Import NHIL, network charge NHIL, then GHS disinfection fee. MOTI import declaration fee, Special Import Levy, Ghana Export-Import Bank Levy. Ghana Education Trust Fund, Ghana Education Network charge, African Union Import Levy. Then COVID Health Recovery Levy, there is Certification and then IRS,” Mr Mahama stated.

Source: Ghanatodayonline.com