A leading youth activist of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), David Amoah King, a businessman in the automobile sector, has informed Mr. Abednego Orstin Rawlings of the United States Africa Command, Ghana (AFRICOM) that His Excellency John Dramani Mahama is unhappy with the current system of seizing vehicles.
Under this old system, vehicles whose importers or owners fail to pay customs duties are confiscated by the state and auctioned cheaply to others, Mr. King indicated.
He explained that President Mahama is developing a new policy under the “Resetting Ghana” initiative.
This policy will allow importers to pay customs duties after their vehicles have been discharged from any port in Ghana.
Mr. King stated that President Mahama himself will ensure that no vehicle is confiscated at any point of entry in Ghana.
He further emphasized that the “God-fearing and listening President” will prioritize Ghanaians by ensuring that no vehicles are auctioned without granting importers an initial three-month grace period.
King David Amoah highlighted that President John Dramani Mahama’s proposed concept aims to address the hardship faced by individuals who struggle to purchase and ship vehicles to Ghana from overseas, only to have them confiscated and sold cheaply to others due to their inability to pay customs duties.
According to Mr. Orstin, the youth activist conveyed that preparations are underway for the President Mahama to introduce policies that safeguard vehicle owners or importers.
These policies will allow them to retrieve their vehicles within a ninety-day period to find the necessary funds or a buyer to cover the customs duties.
King David Amoah also mentioned that President Mahama will expand the operations of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) to create a “Red-Flag Vehicle” code.
This code will be linked to each Vehicle’s Chassis Number (VCN) he stated.
When an owner is unable to pay duties upon arrival at Ghanaian ports, this unique Vehicle Chassis Number (VCN), which never repeats worldwide, will be tagged.
Vehicles marked with this “Red Flag” cannot be registered with the DVLA to obtain a roadworthiness permit or number plate, he indicated.
Furthermore, the ownership of “Red Flag Vehicles” (RFV) cannot be changed or transferred to another person without prior agreement to pay the outstanding customs duties to the state, he charged.
Only after these duties are paid will the transfer be permitted.
The youth activist emphasized that President Mahama deeply disapproves of the current policy of seizing vehicles and selling them cheaply to individuals other than the original owners.
The “Resetting Ghana Red Flag Vehicle” initiative, spearheaded by President Mahama, is expected to alleviate significant stress for Ghanaians and create job opportunities for the youth.
Mr. King explained that before a “Red Flag Vehicle” (RFV) is released to its owner or importer by Ghana Customs and the Ghana Revenue Authority, these entities will verify that comprehensive insurance has been paid.
He concluded by stating that insurance companies will also benefit from increased productivity as all “Red Flag” vehicles will be required to have comprehensive insurance coverage before they can be released to the importer and become roadworthy.
Mr. Rawlings also advised that we should know that first Mother Ghana benefits after six months if importers fail to pay the amount for the customs duties to the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) on time.
This new policy will soon initiate a system where the actual customs duties will attract five percent interest each month on the outstanding amount, he pointed out.
According to Mr. Orstin Rawlings, if President Mahama has such policies which will soon be implemented, it means President Mahama has joined the ranks of Africa’s visionary leaders, a path his father, the first ever President of the Republic of Ghana, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, began.
President Mahama holds the success of the masses both at heart and in mind, so he stated that this very initiative must be undertaken.
The President of the United States Africa Command-Ghana (AFRICOM), Mr. Abednego Orstin Rawlings, commended President John Dramani Mahama for such a laudable policy, which must be implemented soon to alleviate the enormous stress on Ghanaians and vehicle importers alike.
