Stuck medical shipment: GRA clears 14 out of 182 containers for MoH

The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has cleared 14 out of the 182 containers of stuck medical shipments from the Global Fund to mitigate HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis for the Health Ministry.

Prior to this, the Global Fund had threatened to stop sending vital medical supplies to Ghana due to hold-ups in releasing earlier donations at the Tema Port—the Ministry has since denied the suspension reports.

The government’s failure to pay third-party fees resulted in crucial medical supplies, including antiretroviral medications for HIV patients, being delayed at the Tema port for nearly a year.

However, the Deputy Commissioner of the Customs Division of Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Emmanuel Ohene, speaking at a handover ceremony on Friday, April 12, underscored the important role the first batch of medical supplies will play in the country’s healthcare delivery.

“I am pleased to report that the first batch of the consignment has been cleared and it is being released to the Ministry of Health for distribution to various health centres across the country.

“These drugs are vital for the survival of our fellow citizens and I am glad that they are now in the hands of those who will put it to very good use,” he stated.

He also encouraged stakeholders and ministries to work with the GRA to take advantage of the new exemption law to clear eligible goods since “it would help in avoiding charges and penalties at the port.”

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He clarified that even though the pharmaceuticals qualified for exemption, their lockup at the port was caused by unpaid obligations, such as third-party clearance fees.

Mr. Ohene reaffirmed that the authority would always prioritise the needs of its clients and encouraged anyone in need of assistance to seek out information on specific tax methods. He went on to say that doing this will assist people in paying their taxes.

Meanwhile, the Director of the Revenue and Policy Division at the Ministry of Finance, George Winful, said despite the payment of GHS40 million by the Ministry, there remained an outstanding third-party levy. The GHS40 million went into payment for transnational taxes, including ECOWAS levies.

He reiterated that some stakeholders in the health sector were not aware of the new exemption arrangement. This, he said, “contributed to the delay in clearing the goods.”

To address the issue, the Ministry of Finance worked with the Ghana Revenue Authority, Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, and the Ministry of Health.

According to Mr. Winful, an intergovernmental committee was formed by the government after it took inspiration from these instances.

The Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Health, the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, and the GRA are represented on this committee.

To guarantee prompt resolutions, he said, the committee will collaborate to handle such issues as they come up.

It is anticipated that the rest of the medications will be delivered to the Ghana Health Service’s warehouses by April 19 at the latest.

Currently, some 185 containers at the Tema Port and Kotoka International Airport (KIA) are still waiting to be cleared.