Executive Secretary of the Importers and Exporters Association, Samson Asaki Awingobit, has criticised the Minister of Transport, Joseph Bukari Nikpe, over the continued importation of excavators into Ghana despite an official ban on the machines.

Speaking on The Pulse on JoyNews in reaction to a JoyNews investigative report that revealed large-scale night-time clearance of excavators at the Tema Port, Mr. Awingobit accused the Minister of failing to act decisively to enforce the restriction.

“I must say that the Minister of Transport is one of the problematic ministers we have in the system. The Minister has contributed to this canker we are witnessing in the country,” he charged.

According to him, the laxity in enforcement has created a system where politically connected middlemen exploit importers under the guise of facilitating clearance.

“The Minister of Transport has created a situation where party boys and girls now approach excavator importers for money, promising to secure permits for clearance,” he alleged.

Citing the findings of the JoyNews research, which revealed that Ghana is currently the highest importer of excavators in West Africa and the second in Africa, Mr. Awingobit said the Minister should have issued firm directives to shipping lines and importers to ensure compliance.

“As Minister of Transport, how do you announce a ban on excavator imports without giving explicit instructions? He should have written directly to shipping lines, stating that from a specific date, any vessel carrying an excavator into Ghana would face sanctions or be banned from the port,” he explained.

He further stressed that public communication was necessary to make the enforcement clear and unambiguous.

“The Minister should have issued a statement to clarify that vessels already at sea or excavators already landed would be exempted. But from a stated date, any new shipment of excavators would attract penalties, and both the shipping line and importer would be held accountable,” he said.

Mr. Awingobit concluded by insisting that a Minister of State must demonstrate authority and clarity in handling such critical national matters.

“This is how a Minister of State is expected to act—explicit, authoritative, and in full control,” he added.