CTN Demo: GUTA Calls Off Planned Strike
The Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) has called off its planned nationwide strike against the implementation of the Cargo Tracking Note (CTN) policy.
The sudden decision, according to GUTA, is due to government’s assurance to resolve issues in relation to the system before October 15.
At a press briefing in Accra yesterday, Dr. Joseph Obeng, President of GUTA said they have rescinded their decision to close down shops.
“With what the President has done, the maturity the President has shown, the love that he has shown to us, we are calling off our intended demonstration for the closure of shops from Monday to Wednesday,” he said.
GUTA, before government’s intervention was going to announce a nationwide strike to demonstrate against the implementation of the Cargo Tracking Note (CTN).
According to them, the CTN when implemented would collapse their business hence their decision to embark on strike.
Members of the Association were planning to close down their shops and embark on a nationwide demonstration on September 1.
However, moments after their announcement, Dr. Obeng disclosed that the President invited them and assured them of resolving the issue.
He disclosed that “government has assured to reimburse monies of all importers who have already paid their CTN charges ahead of September 1st.”
In commending government for the quick intervention, he mentioned that they are going to monitor to ensure that the CTN is suspended.
“This is not what we are looking at. The assurance of we not using CTN transaction value is what we will be looking at. We will monitor to ensure that this is done,” He said.
The Association further called on the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) to issue a statement to all shipping lines to suspend the CTN to load policy.
“From today only people whose good has been locked will have the usage of the CTN will have a free clearance to ship their goods,” he announced,
The Ghana Revenue Authority introduced the Cargo Tacking Note system on July 1 for all shipments into the country.
The system requires importers to provide real time information on all consignments to Ghana to a global monitoring platform.
By: Emmanuel Yeboah Britwum
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