Single window system will ease congestion at ports – GPHA

The Ghana Ports and Harbors Authority (GPHA) is proposing a single window system to help reduce the congestion at the ports.

According the GPHA, there are too many government agencies operating currently at the ports which contribute to the delays in the clearing of the goods.

The Tema Port is said to be housing more than 15 government agencies which has contributed to the delays and congestion at our ports.

Freight Forwarders, Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) and the Ghana Importers and Exporters Association have all called for the reduction in the number of government agencies there because their presence is contributing to the huge revenue loses because of the delays and congestion.

Speaking to Citi Business News, the Director of Port Tema of the GPHA, Jacob Adorkor said the single window is the solution to having physical presence of government agencies at the ports.

“The Port Authority is supposed to be the landlords of all the agencies that are operating at the ports and each one because of legislation must operate at the ports and we have to provide space for all of them. One meter square meter of space is a huge cost to the GPHA and we continue to create these space and provide as and when these agencies come to the ports as per there legislature.”

The Director of Port Tema of the GPHA said the solution to the congestion and too many government agencies at the ports is a single window system.

According to him, with the single window, all the government agencies will appoint just a representative at the ports to take care of their work doing physical examination when the need be saying if that happen the congestion at our ports would be reduced.

“The single window is an electronic system when you hook on you can release a cargo when you realize that that has conform which means you do not have to be physically present to examine the cargo which will reduce the congestion at our ports”

By: Norvan Acquah-Hayford/citifmonline.com/Ghana