By Kemo Kanyi
The Association of Customs Clearing and Forwarding Agencies (ACCFA) has registered 122 licensed clearing agents, including nine new members, bringing the total number of registered agencies in the country to 131.
The revelation was made by Lamin Basse Bojang, Assistant Secretary-General of ACCFA, during the Association’s annual general meeting (AGM) held over the weekend at the National Nutrition Agency.
The AGM brought together clearing agents and key stakeholders to discuss strategies for the development of the Association.
“We successfully completed our registration exercise, registering 122 licensed agents with nine new members, bringing the total to 131 registered agencies,” Bojang said.
He added that the executive has issued official staff identification cards to promote professionalism and proper identification.
“I am pleased to report that nearly 99 percent of our staff have been issued ID cards, amounting to a total of 887 cards. These IDs are now officially recognized by key stakeholders, including the Gambia Ports Authority (GPA), Albayrak, and the Customs Department at the seaport and the GRA headquarters. They are now used for staff verification during document processing and daily operations,” he said.
Bojang also highlighted improvements in the Association’s operations, particularly in container turnaround time, which has become more efficient and predictable.
“These improvements have eased operational challenges for many members. However, one major challenge remains with Maersk Line, concerning the increase in container deposits. The deposit level introduced is very high and beyond the capacity of many clearing agents,” he noted.
He urged members to continue conducting their business with discipline, honesty, and professionalism.