Some travelers who used the newly opened Terminal 3 of the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) said they were required to declare their food including gari to some representatives of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture at a flat fee GHȻ 50 in return for a phyto-certificate.
The practice may have been new because some travelers initially resented making any payment until they were talked into paying by some officials at the Airport.
According to officials from the Agric Ministry stationed at the Airport, the practice of travelers having to declare their plants, plant parts, plant products and other regulated items has been in existence for the past four years but only became prominent when the Terminal 3 was opened.
Source: 3news.com
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I think that the Mins. of Agric must explain the purpose of the fee and also ensure issuance of receipt. It's good Ghanaians are now questioning everything --- this is what it takes to fight 'corruption' or rather misappropriation of public funds.
This practice has been there since(2010 or 2011) i started using KIA. The certificate is issued no receipt.Annoyingly, there has never been a time any Security or any official for that matter has asked me for a certificate before.It has always pissed me saaaa ...... They will confuse you and write botanical names on the cert as if its something important. Lets look into it.... it is annoying
Masa this is complete ripoff! The certificate is not recognised at port of entry of other nations at least I can say that for a fact because I was told it means nothing to them though I was allowed my dry fish it wasn’t because of the certification.
This practice is bleeding corruption at the terminal. I travelled through the terminal on 11/12/2018. I was asked where i was carrying any food items, and responded in the affirmative. So, I was directed to some agric officer standing far off from the check in areas. I told him I was carrying just a few fingers of plantain, not more than eight, an olonka of gari, and three tubers of yams (pona). Noting that he was within eye shot of his supervisor, who was in "booth", he sent me to him. After explaining to him I have been using the airport quite frequently and that, that was the first time I was becoming aware of the regulation, I did not prepare myself and therefore did not have fifty Ghana Cedis on me. I pleaded that I was not carry any commercial quantity of the food item, just a few as explained earlier on. Just as I finished speaking, he order the gentleman seize the items. I could visibly see the surprise written on the face of the officer, as he reluctantly removed the gari, fingers of plantain, and three tubers of yams. Some people had observed the items being removed, so, when I returned to the check in counter, one man approached me, and when I explained to me, he told me I should have given him hundred Ghana cedis. The interpretation of that regulation by the agric officers is going to create room for extortion, to the detriment of the government. The government should come out and educate the travelling public intending to use the airport on the charges, the specific items and quantities of them that will attract the fee. Much as the ignorance of the law is no defence, the matters like this, the government owes it a responsibility to educate the public if I had know, I do not see how I will carry food items less than twenty Ghana Cedis and pay a levy of fifty Ghana Cedis. Additionally, I cannot fathom why a processed food like gari should attract a levy
This certificate is not honoured anywhere. We are just dumb for coming up with something like this. You are allowed fish products in the USA and Canada, no need to be paying anything extra. No meat or dairy products are allowed. I would suggest people package their stuff well so it does reek. the smell is the give away. This is just ***barred word***.
this is not the first time, i have paid twice at KIA