GUTA welcomes dialogue on marine insurance
By Isaac AIDOO, Accra
The Ghana Union of Traders Association of Ghana, GUTA, has welcomed proposals from the National Insurance Commission for a national forum on marine insurance in Ghana but wants the NIC to direct its energies towards providing importers with quality and affordable services.
GUTA said it was more important for local insurers to get more proactive and reach out to businesses in the imports sector with attractive packages.
The NIC over the weekend called on stakeholders in the maritime industry and businesses in the imports sector to collaborate to upscale marine insurance which according to the Commission was at its lowest ebb.
President of GUTA, Dr Joseph Obeng said “I welcome the call for a national dialogue on marine insurance; it is very important but aside that the national insurance commission has a lot to do to make their services and products more attractive; that’s the core of the whole issue.”
He maintained that the push for local insurance companies to take up marine insurance should not necessarily lead to the withdrawal of existing foreign insurance companies.
“What we should be thinking of is how businesses can be better served under the National Insurance Commission and its insurance companies in Ghana beyond those in the international arena,” he noted.
Dr Obeng said GUTA was in support of any policy or intervention that would keep forex exchange within the country as an improved marine insurance policy would do.
He maintained that insurers should craft their products and services in a way that will see clients and businesses willingly patronise the without being compelled to.
“By now we should know what products are on offer for importers who have to transport their goods from the port to their warehouses,” he stated.
