The Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders (GIFF) has pledged to curb the problems that importers face when they want to clear goods from the sea and airports.

Chairman of the GIFF, Kotoka International Airport (KIA) District, Kwabena Ofosu Appiah, said this at the maiden durbar organised by GIFF and KIA for members and other stakeholders to address challenges they have been facing in the industry. It was under the theme “Stakeholder Operational Challenges, Effect on Our Business and the Way Forward”.

“We, over time, have had challenges with our stakeholders; and more often than not these challenges have not been properly addressed. Therefore, we think that having a new approach to solving the problems in-house can go further to reduce the challenges,” Mr. Appiah said.

“In the coming weeks there will be a roundtable discussion with these same stakeholders and, together, plan a seminar where we will agree to parameters and set the rules on how each and every operator should work so that goods can be cleared seamlessly.” He said these challenges have to be tackled since they often lead to the consumer incurring higher costs.

“When problems arise, it means you cannot take your goods out and you have to wait till those challenges are resolved before you can have your goods. Meanwhile, the warehouse operator who is keeping your goods will charge you for keeping them irrespective of who caused the stoppage.”

Mr. Ofosu-Appiah also disclosed that the Institute has been given approval by the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Association (FIATA) to run a diploma course in freight forwarding. “Just last year, GIFF was adjudged a centre of excellence by FIATA - and just about three weeks ago our course contents were validated by FIATA to run a Higher National Diploma (HND) in supply-chain management.

“These are some of the things we are doing, and so we need to retool our people to be able to deal with every situation in the world. Our diploma is recognised by every freight- forwarding institution all over the world.”