The Chief Revenue Officer in charge of Preventive at the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority, Dunstan Ayamga has refuted the claim by some sections of the public that, seized restricted or contraband goods by the state security institutions at Ghana’s ports, mysteriously find their way back to individuals in the society.

Speaking on Eye on Port, Mr. Dunstan Ayamga said the tight procedures by the country’s security agencies would not allow such activities due to the serious implications the misplacement or reallocation of such dangerous items to individuals in the society would have on the country.

“I don’t see how that can happen from where I sit. It is not possible,” he expressed.

According to him, restricted goods such as ammunition without permits that are seized at the Ports, are kept in the public warehouse in the custody of the police who will conduct criminal proceedings on them.

Speaking on the same program, the National Security Liaison at the Port of Tema, Sub. Lt Christian Kofi Tettey added that after investigations are completed, the judiciary decides what is done with ceased restricted goods like ammunition, be it destruction or relocation to the security agencies for use.

He said even with restricted goods that are imported with permits, his outfit ensures that these goods are escorted and transported safely to their said destinations.

Mr. Tettey indicated that they ensure strict monitoring to ensure that some of these permitted cargoes like mining materials and fertilizers do not fall in the wrong hands in the public, because misuse of them may have chaotic consequences.

“Explosives for mining for example, if used in the market place and explodes, it will cause a lot of harm. So when it comes to the port, we examine it, and escort it to the magazine of the importer,” he disclosed.

The top security officials at Ghana’s ports, stated that with robust risk management systems at the port, effective collaborations with international security institutions like Interpol, as well as local security agencies, contraband and illegal goods would not be allowed into the country.

While the security officials assured of a 24/7 high alert on security procedures at the port, they further emphasized their resolve to be on top of their game within this period leading up to the presidential and parliamentary elections where some of these illegalities may be entertained by some unscrupulous individuals or groups.

Clearing agents have been cautioned to be circumspect and professional in their dealings with importers in order not to be used as unsuspecting accomplices to illegalities such as the importation of contraband goods into the country.

Speaking on Eye on Port on Security at Ghana’s ports, the National Security Liaison at the Port of Tema, Sub. Lt Christian Kofi Tettey said it is in the best interest of clearing agents to scrutinize the documents pertaining to imported cargoes and verify them.

“For the agent, you have to ensure that what your client is bringing in is good, else you will suffer the consequences of it,” he said.

According to him, with agents serving as representatives of importers, when an interception of contraband cargo is made in the port, and there is difficulty in retrieving the importer, the agent would be the point of contact for investigations until they trace the actual importer.

Speaking on the same program, the Chief Revenue Officer in charge of Preventive at the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority, Dunstan Ayamga, emphasized the need for innocent clearing agents to know the identities and genuine addresses of their clients, so that in the case of investigations of this magnitude, they can help security officials bust these importers and relieve themselves.

“Sometimes it is very risky. Somebody brings a declaration to you, and you have not even done the necessary checks? Sometimes they don’t even know the owner. You should be able to find a way,” he expressed.

These recommendations were given to address some viewers of the program’s concerns of the time news of contraband goods intercepted at the port are made public.

According to a contributor to the program, publicizing the news of such events may enable the consignee to abscond and consequently leave the clearing agent to his or her fate.

The National Security Liaison at the Port of Tema, Sub. Lt Christian Kofi Tettey, indicated that investigations are done in a discreet manner to ensure that word does not get out prematurely to aid in the fleeing of the importer of such contraband goods.

“If you bring it to the public domain, the likelihood that the importer will runaway is very high so we do our background works to locate where the person is first,” he said.

Recently in early October, a container which was said to contain personal effects, household goods, and a carding machine, was flagged as ‘Red Channel”, and after physical examination, 18 packages identified as restricted items were found in the container.

These include 436 Pistols (Side Arms), 26 packs of 50 pieces of Ammunition, and 40ml piece of Pepper Spray.

Similarly, in late September, the state security apparatus working at the port collaboratively intercepted a 152-kilogram package suspected to be cocaine.

According to the security officials at the port, investigations are currently advanced, for the appropriate prosecution to take place.

The National Security Liaison at the Port of Tema, Sub. Lt Christian Kofi Tettey, and the Chief Revenue Officer in charge of Preventive at the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority, Dunstan Ayamga, have assured the public of tight security procedures by their outfits that would ensure that contraband and illegal goods do not make it through Ghana’s ports.

“I want to assure the public that so far as I am in charge of National Security at the Port, nobody can play a funny game. We will make sure we apply all the intelligence measures we have to intercept any cargo which would not inure to the benefit of the security of the country,” Mr. Christian Tettey expressed vehemently.

“Currently we have improved our technology significantly. We have scanners that are able to detect all these things. We also have very dedicated officers on the job,” Mr. Dunstan Ayamga added.

Speaking on Eye on Port’s live studio discussion on the state of the nation’s security at Ghana’s ports as well as outcomes of some recent security interventions at the ports, the National Security Liaison at the Port of Tema, Sub. Lt Christian Tettey, revealed that in September, with the help of a tip-off, the state security apparatus intercepted a 152-kilogram package believed to be cocaine and concealed in a shipment of sugar from Brazil at the Port of Tema.

The Chief Revenue Officer in charge of Preventive at the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority, Dunstan Ayamga on the other hand, disclosed that upon suspicion of an under-declared container, the division intercepted a container with 436 Pistols, 26 packs of 50 pieces of Ammunition, and 40ml piece of Pepper Spray.

He revealed that these goods were declared as personal effect by the consignee. “First, when we started examining, what we saw was boxes that looked like a tool kits.

When we opened one, we saw a pistol in it, before searching the rest,” he narrated. Since then, the security officials said investigations are ongoing for the appropriate prosecution to take place.

The top security officials at Ghana’s ports, indicated that they are in strong collaboration with international security institutions like Interpol in the fight against the exportation and importation of contraband goods across countries.

Sub. Lt. Christian Tettey revealed that the profiling of cargo origins guides are some of the interventions they take at the port in the fight against contraband goods.

He stated that he intends to send a memo to the various operators within the clearance chain for special treatment on goods from Turkey as recent intel suggests the country is a likely source of some of these restricted goods.

“On Monday, I am writing to all the agencies and terminals including MPS, that any container from Turkey should not be seen as an ordinary container. We need to go into it. It would not be pleasant to importers but that is what we have to do,” he said.

Dunstan Ayamga, said the Customs Division possess a very potent risk management system that ensures that all suspicious goods undergo physical examination and scrutiny.

“The risk management team is made up of all parties which are concerned with the security of the country including NACOC and they have all the intelligence that matters. And if they have a container coming from a suspected area, they would interdict it,” he revealed.

He said in the case of restricted goods such as ammunition without permits that are seized at the Ports, those goods are kept in the public warehouse in the custody of the police.

Sub. Lt Christian Tettey, added that after investigations are completed, the judiciary decides what is done with such restricted goods like ammunition, be it destruction or relocation to the security agencies for use.

The National Security Liaison at the Tema Port, said even with restricted goods that are imported with permits, his outfit ensures that these goods are escorted and transported safely to their said destinations.

The Head of Freight and Logistics at the Ghana Shippers’ Authority (GSA), Fred Asiedu-Dartey has said the completion of the Tema-Akosombo railway project will boost transit trade.

He said, the project, which is a component of the 1,000 km Ghana-Burkina railway interconnectivity project, will fast-track key requirements of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the GSA and the shippers’ councils of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger to facilitate inter-country trade.

Mr. Asiedu-Dartey added that the project will also relatively reduce the cost of transportation of goods and serve the interest of transit shippers and shippers in the northern part of the country.

He said this during a tour to monitor the state of progress of the railway project on 14th October,2020 by members of the Port Infrastructure Committee (PIC) of the Governing Board of the GSA.

The 97 kilometer railway stretches from Tema to Mpakadan and is being funded by the Indian EXIMBANK at a cost of $447 million.

The project, which comes with the construction of six passenger stations and a freight terminal in the Tema Port, is part of the national railway plan to construct over 4,500 km railways across the country.

The Director of Port of Tema, Sandra Opoku who is also a Member of the Board of GSA, said the construction of the Tema-Akosombo railway will significantly reduce the movement of cargo by road, particularly to the northern part of the country.

The Deputy Chief Executive of the Ghana Railway Company Limited (GRCL), Dr. Michael Adjei-Anyetei said plans are far advanced for Ghana to take over the management of the project after its completion.

The Tema branch of the Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GNCCI) has held its third business meeting of the year which focused on legal education on contracts and negotiations.

According to the leadership of the Chamber, during its engagement with the business community, it noted an emerging increase in contract conflicts among business executives, hence, the need to educate members of the Chamber on key areas to look out for when writing or signing any business contract or agreement.

The Chairman of the Tema Branch of the GNCCI, Isaac Barry emphasized on the need for business executives to know their fundamental legal obligations and understand the implications of some clauses within contracts.

“We have to know our obligations and we have to create contracts that can carry the businesses through so that it becomes a win-win situation,” he expressed.

The Director of Port of Tema, who is also an expert on Maritime Law, Sandra Opoku, and acting as a Guest Speaker for the meeting, emphasized the need for legal education in order to get rid of the assumptions that commonly mislead business persons.

She advised importers of goods to make use of professionals at the recognizable custom house associations to help them make the right legal decisions in their international business arrangements.

“Majority of the clearing agents understand the documentations that go into such maritime transactions. So even before you decide to import, you can go to GIFF headquarters and let somebody there be nominated for you to take you through the documentation before sign anything with the trader in Far East or Europe,” she guided.

Tuinese Edward Amuzu, an International Law Expert and lecturer at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration, said the incidence of the COVID-19 pandemic has brought untold hardships to businesses, so it is pivotal for businesses to be able to investigate if the pandemic frustrated business contracts and the actions to take as a result.

He said it is fortunate that the contract act of Ghana, spells out the dynamics that guide frustrated contracts, hence, it is important for business people to familiarize themselves with such provisions in the law.

The first batch of the consultants conducting feasibility studies for the construction of the Port of Keta have arrived in Ghana and commenced physical stakeholder engagements with the Keta community.

On the 14th October, 2020, the advanced group of consultants belonging to the Sellhorn team, consultants for the feasibility studies, were accompanied by the Director of Keta Port and other GPHA officials including the Project Engineer, Kobla Ofori to be introduced to the Keta community to officially resume physical stakeholder engagements.

Amid the Covid-19, the consultants for the feasibility studies had been virtually communicating with stakeholders for the necessary information and data.

However, due to the scope of work required, it was very important for them to be active on the grounds to do their research and analysis.

Thus, their arrival following the reopening of the airport to human traffic.

Speaking at the first stakeholder engagement with the Keta Community, representatives of the traditional leadership of Keta expressed pleasure at the interest shown in Keta for the port and called for speedy execution of all processes.

Municipal Chief Executive of Keta, Godwin Effah Edudzi, promised of a good collaboration from his outfit towards all interactions with the consultants.

“We will keep working with you hand in hand, henceforth. We won’t do anything in isolation,” he assured.

Dr. Joachim Soergel, a representative of the Sellhorn team revealed that having previously done works on the Tema and Takoradi Port expansion projects, they are conversant with the Ghanaian terrain in port infrastructure development and will deliver well on their task.

Director of the Port of Keta, Dr. Alexander Adusei, explained the significance of the gradual planning and developmental processes of the port project.

“The planning is the most important part to ensure all the pieces fit together to ensure that once you start putting bricks and mortar together, you know that you are a solid platform,” he said.

He expressed continued commitment to fulfilling the desires of the Keta people regarding the port project.

He revealed that there would be the establishment of GPHA communication centers within the Keta area for easy access to information by constituents of the community. 

The Chief of Naval Staff, Real Admiral Seth Amoama, has praised the Ghana Ports and Harbors Authority for its immense support over the years especially in helping fuel naval vessels in the fight to curb the incidence of piracy in the country’s territorial waters.

“We need to be able to go deeper into the ocean, so this support from GPHA is very appreciative. What we usually get can only sustain a few patrols. So with more fuel we can stay longer at sea,” he expressed.

Speaking during a working visit to the Management of the Ghana Ports and Harbors Authority, he said that the relationship between his outfit and the Port Authority has been a fruitful one towards the protection of Ghana’s marine space.

He also assured of his commitment to ensure that oil vessels that call the Naval base in Sekondi would redirect their operations to the new ultramodern Oil terminal at the Port of Takoradi.

“Once the oil and gas terminal is completed, it is a matter of giving notice to the vessels that call at the Naval base that, it is a purely military institution and not a commercial port,” he said.

The Director General of the Ghana Ports and Harbors Authority, Michael Luguje corroborated his assertion and called for oil vessels to call at the new port facility in Takoradi.

The Director of Port of Keta, Dr. Alexander Adusei also revealed plans to accommodate the navy in the construction of the new Port due to the vital role they play in guarding the nation’s waters.

“We would like the consultants to make sure to engage the navy to ensure that we would be able to provide the facility that would accommodate your presence,” he said.

The Port Ladies Association of the Ghana Ports and Harbors Authority in collaboration with the International Maritime Hospital has embarked on an intensive education on breast cancer for its members.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide and in low- and middle-income countries, like Ghana the incidence has been rising steadily. Research suggests that breast cancer is also the leading cause of cancer mortality in Ghanaian women.

According to a Family Physician Specialist at the International Maritime Hospital, Dr. Yaa Akyaa Boateng, due to the fatality associated with the cancer in its late stages, it is important to emphasize on early detection which is the best option in the management of the illness.

She revealed that high exposure to oestrogen, the female sex hormone, aging, genetics, and ethnicity are among some of the uncontrollable natural risk factors of breast cancer, however, there’s the need to practice healthy lifestyles to reduce chances of breast cancer.

“We need to cut down on excessive alcohol intake as well as smoking, because that increases our risk of developing breast cancer,” she educated.

The members of the Port Ladies Association were also taught the appropriate ways to do the self-breast examination themselves and also advised to get screened regularly.

The PLASS members also had the opportunity to interact with some breast cancer survivors and ambassadors of the Breasted One Foundation, who are playing a crucial role in the encouragement of women countrywide who may be unfortunately diagnosed for the illness.

The President of the Port Ladies Association and the Corporate Procurement Manager of GPHA, Philippa Amanda Armah asked the members of PLASS to take advantage of the free healthcare they receive as employees of GPHA, to make sure to get checked up regularly.

The Marketing and Public Affairs Manager at the Port of Tema, Abena Serwaa Opoku-Fosu said such educational arrangements go a long way to empower women to be able to play an influential role in their own fates as well as make them ambassadors in their various communities.

The International Maritime Hospital has partnered 3FM, to offer free breast screening in Kanda where the radio station is situated. This is in continuation of efforts to bring adequate awareness and support to Ghanaians nationwide on breast cancer.

This initiative is an addition to the free breast screening IMaH is already doing at its own hospital premises in Tema, on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays throughout the month of October.

The Head of Clinical Services at the International Maritime Hospital, Dr. Helen Tettey, said these efforts align with the hospital’s vision of reaching as many people as possible to ensure early detection of the cancer, which is usually highly curable in such cases.

She therefore called on all people above 20 years to take advantage of the opportunity and examine their breasts, especially in this month, when it is free.

“The whole aim is that we want as many people as we can to participate in this activity. We encourage every man and woman to come and examine their breasts because Breast Cancer is real.”

The Event Manager-Commercial at Media Generale, Jackeline Smith said the high death rate of cancer is as a result of the fact that people do go for testing early.

She, therefore, entreated the general public to make it a point to take advantage of the free breast screening in the month of October to know their status.

“The International Maritime Hospital is offering 40% discount for anyone who comes for the screening and finds out that they have to do further investigation, whether it is a mammogram, ultrasound, etc. That is huge!” she expressed.

Three (3) Ghanaians have been disembarked at the Port of Tema, after being nabbed mid-voyage in Namibian waters during their stowaway attempt.

The stowaways, namely, Emmanuel Agyei, 45 years, Akesse Francis Alan, 46 years and Samuel Yalley, 45 years, all from Elmina in the Central Region of Ghana, claimed to have successfully embarked the vessel, MV, Kota Lumba with a bamboo ladder at the blind side of ship crew late September, 2020.

However, they were caught in the vessel when they left their hiding place in search of food and water, after theirs run out in the middle of the voyage.

On October 1, the Ghanaian stowaways were transferred to a sister vessel, Kota Salam at Walvis Bay anchorage for repatriation to Ghana.

According to the stowaways, although they had no prior idea where the ship was going, they were hopeful it would be destined for a country that offers greener pastures.

They revealed that they had travelled to Tema from Elmina, in pursuit of better livelihoods but they could not make ends meet, hence the decision to stowaway.

The Head of intelligence at the Port of Tema, Sheikh Labaran Salifu Barry, advised the general public to eschew the deviant act of stowaway as it is a highly dangerous adventure.