2010 Mar 10

CEPS urged to auction contents of over-stayed containers

 Mr Cletus Kuzagbe, President of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) - Ghana, has appealed to the Customs Exercise and Preventive Service (CEPS) to auction the contents of containers that had stayed in the Ports for far too long.

He said the move would not only generate revenue for government but also ensure that shipping lines received back the emptied containers which some had been at the Ports for many years to create enough space for cargoes.

Mr Kuzagbe made the appeal during the induction into office of members of the interim executive committee of the Tema branch of the CILT in Tema.

The six-member committee, which has a six-month mandate, has Mr Sam
Adjei Kumi, Manager of the Golden Jubilee Terminal, as Chairman, with Naa-Densua Aryeetey, Manager of the Tema branch of the Ghana Shippers' Authority as his Vice.

The other members are: Mr Lackson Legah, Secretary; Mrs Berlinda Kuzagbe, Treasurer, Mr Simeon Gyewu, Education/Training Officer and Mr Ephraim Asare, Organizer.

He pointed out that by law most of these longstanding containers at the Ports had become government property.

He said it was for this reason, therefore, that revenue and security agencies had to team up and gazette promptly the contents of the containers, and auction them to companies and the public.

"We are sitting on gold," the CILT-Ghana President declared.

Mr Kuzagbe appealed to the Ministry of Roads and Highways to consider the construction of a flyover at the Tema end of the Motorway to ease traffic congestion at the Motorway Roundabout.

He noted that the cost of delays at the Motorway Roundabout due to congestion on daily basis was enormous and suggested that the bypass road linking Kpone Junction to Ashaiman roundabout should be upgraded and asphalted to divert traffic from Aflao to Ashaiman, Afienya and beyond.

He further suggested to the Tema Metropolitan Assembly to consider re-locating the lorry station along the dual carriageway to the port since it was causing nuisance to motorists.

On the achievements of CILT, the President stated that the Institute had made significant contributions towards raising the standard of logistics and transport management in the country.

"Many of our members can be found in public and private service."

Mr Kuzagbe urged members of the interim executive committee to rejuvenate the branch, and have it operated more effectively, since they had accepted the challenge to work to move the branch forward.

While pledging to uphold, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of CILT at all times, the executive members promised to live above reproach.

Mr Emmanuel Martey, Deputy Chief Executive of the Ghana Shippers' Authority (GSA), who chaired the function, said the relationship between GSA and CILT had been genial and hoped the authorities of the two companies would take it to greater heights for their mutual benefits.

He commended the vision, foresight and tenacity of the previous executives of the Institute in upholding the ideals by promoting professionalism in the logistics and transport industry in the country.

Mr Martey observed that the broad span of activities involved in logistics and transport, needed to be supported by all and sundry, not excluding the GSA.

The Deputy Chief Executive urged CILT to collaborate with relevant government agencies and other industry stakeholders, to help fashion out appropriate policy on matters affecting transport and logistics.

He urged CILT to step up its membership drive to promote its ideals to many industry players.

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