Some security officials at the Tema Port in the Greater Accra Region on Friday, June 26, 2020, disrupted a meeting between freight forwarders and some NDC officials.
The situation brought chaos at the revenue centre inside the Tema Port.
The NDC officials had visited the port to appreciate issues associated with the controversial implementation of UNIPASS following several complaints by freight forwarders.
Some of the NDC officials who led the team included National Communications Officer, Sammy Gyamfi; Bolgatanga Central MP, Isaac Adongo; and a former Trade and Industry Minister; Dr. Ekow Spio-Garbrah.
While engaging the business groups, some port security officials stormed the meeting room asking the NDC officials to leave.
Joy News reports that some of the freight forwarders initially resisted the order to vacate the meeting room.
“We met some of the freight forwarders who said they had been stranded at the port for the past two to three weeks. They said they were unable to pay their monies for their goods to be cleared… Whiles, they were having the meeting, some security personnel stormed the long room and asked that they should leave. The freight forwarders and clearing agents resisted that they did not want to leave and wanted the NDC to understand their concerns,” JoyNews reported.
The situation escalated as the taskforce resorted to the use of force to evacuate the group from the meeting room.
In a video shown on JoyNews, the security officials were captured pushing both the NDC officials and the freight forwarders outside the long room.
Shortly after the confrontation, Isaac Adongo addressed the media stressing on the need to stop the manual payment at the port.
“We’re aware that cargo is being delivered manually and the state is losing tax. We have come here to give you a voice.
“When we get into the Marina hall, I want you to speak your mind. This nonsense will stop. And if they don’t stop, the agitations that we have started today will be intensified.”
“So we are here to assist you to fight the UNIPASS system so that the state does not lose money so that you’re able to pay your dues and go home to go and feed your families,” he stated.
Authorities at the Tema port are yet to respond to the matter.