Cargo Tracking Note Commence Today

The Cargo Track Note (CTN) policy introduced by the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) would take effect today, October 15.

This means that all shipments made into the country must be covered by a CTN number.

A notice signed by the Commissioner General of GRA, Mr. Kofi Nti said “…any importer who imports less than 36 TEUs per year is exempt from CTN compliance. Further, businesses that import more than 36 TEUs per year but can demonstrate that the nature of their imports and their turnovers make them small importers will be exempt.”

The CTN policy was expected to roll out on September 1, but was postponed due to some concerns raised by the Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders (GIFF) and the Ghana Union of Traders (GUTA).

However, the implementation has arrived after consultations with the Ghana Revenue Authority and other stakeholders.

Mr. Kofi Nti explained that the policy would provide greater scrutiny of major imports for both valuation and security management purposes.

He said the exemptions is to ensure that small and medium scale importers are free from the requirements.

“Those exemptions are to ensure that our small and medium scale importers, mostly petty traders, our market women and men, small distributors, and other small to medium businesses are free from the requirements of this intervention,” he said.

Goods imported into the country without the CTN, according to GRA, would not be processed by Customs for clearance until the CTN number is provided, except where a special dispensation had been granted.”

GIFF Sues GRA

Meanwhile, a member of GIFF, John Kwame Adu Jack has filed a suit at the Supreme Court to prevent the implementation of the Cargo Tracking Note (CTN).

Amongst others, he has pleaded with the Supreme Court to declare that the introduction of the CTN in its current form, contravenes some international treaties and conventions.

The CTN system requires importers to provide real time information on all consignments to Ghana to a global monitoring platform.

The cost which ranges between 100 and 200 dollars, is being borne by the GRA.

By: Emmanuel Yeboah Britwum