By Buertey Francis BORYOR
The ICC Ghana Secretary General Emmanuel Doni-Kwame has said Ghana is missing out on important trade benefits, because it has not signed the Istanbul Convention which grants access to ATA Carnet – a passport for goods that allows temporary imports without paying duties or taxes.
Speaking on Eye on Port powered by the Ghana Ports and Harbour Authority (GPHA), Doni-Kwame stressed the country’s need to join the convention and enhance its trade competitiveness.
He explained that ATA Carnet is an international Customs document that allows businesses to temporarily bring goods into a country for up to a year without paying import charges. He added that it makes trade easier by allowing goods to move across multiple countries under one document.
He pointed out that Côte d’Ivoire already uses the passport – making it easier for businesses there to bring in equipment and other products for short-term use. In contrast, he said, Ghanaian companies must go through Customs procedures which may require them to pay duties on temporarily imported goods.
Furthermore, he said the country’s Customs laws allow goods to be brought in temporarily; but since Customs officials decide on a case-by-case basis, businesses are unsure of what to expect.
“International best practice encourages countries to sign the Istanbul Convention so businesses can operate with confidence,” he added.
He moreover said that ICC Ghana is pushing for the country to join the 78 countries which already use ATA Carnet, further suggesting that the State Insurance Company (SIC), which issues the ECOWAS Brown Card, could help in implementing the system.
Doni-Kwame believes adopting ATA Carnet will help the nation become more competitive in global trade.
“For Ghana to compete, it must embrace new solutions like digital trade agreements and facilitation tools. ATA Carnet is one of them,” he elaborated.
He also lauded progress in digital trade, especially at the ports where e-invoicing and e-payments are improving efficiency – but stressed that without agreements like the Istanbul Convention, the country could be left behind in global trade.
