Nana Asiamah Peprah, the First Vice President of the Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders, has criticised Mr Samson Asaki Awingobit, Executive Secretary of the Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana, for endorsing the implementation of the Publican AI system.
Mr Peprah remarked that it was unsurprising to see Mr Awingobit and his “unrecognised” association support a system that faces stiff opposition from the Ghana Union of Traders (GUTA), the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), and several other prominent industry bodies.
Speaking during an interview on Nyankonton Mu Nsem on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM, Mr Peprah asserted that the association led by Mr Awingobit lacks locus standi, commands no institutional respect, and is not formally recognised by state institutions or the government.
He argued that while other major associations could declare a strike and compel the government to engage in immediate negotiations, the group headed by Mr Awingobit holds no such influence.
He further noted that relevant stakeholders have raised significant concerns regarding the Publican AI system and are awaiting an appropriate response from the authorities.
“We have raised serious concerns over the new system, and we expect that the government will take immediate action. We met with the Shippers Authority, but we believe that they have nothing significant to do about our concerns.
However, the Transport Ministry is set to engage us on Thursday, and we are hopeful something positive comes out of the meeting. But if nothing happens, we will continue to express our displeasure.”
When questioned specifically on the stance taken by Mr Awingobit, Mr Peprah suggested that the public should not be misled by the names of certain organisations.
He stated that the mere title of “Importers and Exporters Association” does not grant Mr Awingobit the mandate to represent the entirety of the sector’s stakeholders.
He encouraged a scrutiny of the backgrounds of the various groups currently engaging the government, noting that credible associations possess well-structured organisations and hold democratic elections to appoint their executives.
“I would have been surprised if he had supported our cause. Secondly, we should be careful how we allow some associations and names to deceive us. The fact that the name of his group is Importers and Exporters does not mean he represents all stakeholders in the sector. You can check the background of all the groups engaging the government on this issue. We all have well-structured organisations; we also organise credible elections to elect our executives and members. These are well-structured, organised groups, and if we put our heads together and we have an association deceiving people, we will not entertain them. Let GUTA and the other organisations declare a strike, and that organisation declare a strike, and see which one of us the government would want to engage.”
Mr Peprah concluded by reaffirming that the decision by his and other established organisations to embark on industrial action was entirely justified.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
