The Director-General of the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) Prof Alex Dodoo, has debunked claims purported by the Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders, that import duties have been increased.

According to the Authority, the assertions are unfounded as the legislature has the sole power to impose charges which subsequently becomes legally binding.

Prof. Dodoo revealed that, Parliament sanctioned new fees and charges that the Authority has to accumulate for the “delivery of good and services to the public”.

He further intimated that, implementation of this was stalled by GSA as a result of numerous factors such as the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Authority, he explained consequently informed the general public including all importers and exporters of its intention to level the Parliamentary approved fees effective 1st January 2021.

In light of this, Prof. Dodoo revealed that, the fees and charges for several goods and services offered by the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) remained unaffected by the Fees and Charges Instrument 2019.

He further expressed the resolve of the Authority to ensure the support of businesses in the country

“We are committed to assisting businesses to grow, so we will not do anything to deviate from this goal”, further intimating that, the Authority will “contribute towards the growth of the industry, protect consumers and facilitate trade through standards, metrology and conformity assessment.

“We are on track to become a customer-focused world-class standards organization and 2021 will be a year of enforcement and engagement”.

Prof. Dodoo also urged Ghanaians to support GSA as it meticulously enforces its mandate and applies the necessary sanctions to ensure that goods and services in Ghana are of the best attainable standards and quality.

“As part of our continued commitment of protecting customers and promoting trade, we will engage stakeholders in the national interest and make our presence felt across the length and breadth of the country, in all 16 Regions, and in all sectors”.

The Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) earlier disclosed that the charge for clearing goods will effective January 1, 2020, increase by 20 percent.

According to the Authority, the annual review of prices is expected to affect importers of all products in a bid to ensure importers receive better services.

Contained in a letter signed by the Director General of the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) to the President of the Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders, it revealed that consent for the increase was made by Parliament.

“We bring to the attention of your institution that effective January 1, 2020, the Standards Authority will start the implementation of its new fees and charges. Approval for the fees and charges was given by Parliament in August 2019 for implementation in the year 2020. Its implementation was however delayed.”

To this end, the registration of importers per product group has increased by 20 percent for the annual payment.

Consequently, shopping malls and supermarkets are now to register a fee of 20,000 cedis for their yearly product group with cement products (bagged cement and clinker) going for 5000 cedis etc.

Already, the Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders has alerted of a possible hike in prices for traders who import these goods.