Some importers and clearing agents are complaining about the poor network that characterizes the paperless system at the ports.
The network system managed by GCNET and Customs World formerly West Blue Consult, replaced the manual documentation of port data.
Implementation of the system began on September 1 last year at both the Tema and Takoardi ports.
But some clearing agents and importers who spoke to Citi Business News said the poor network system rather delays the process.
“Education on the paperless system didn’t go down well and as a result there was a lot of struggle. The excuse they normally give us is that the network is down and when the network is down, there is nothing we can do,” a clearing agent told Citi Business News.
Another agent said, “For instance when GCNet goes off, you have to wait until it comes back on. The last time it went off, it went off for about two or three days before it came back on, so for the three days there was no work.”
The paperless system was initiated by the Vice President, Dr. Muhammudu Bawumia who expressed worry about the huge sums of money paid as demurrage.
The Vice President therefore gave the directive in May 2017 and by September that same year, revenue at the ports is said to have increased by 56 percent, from 130 million cedis recorded in the first week of September 2016, to 213 million cedis recorded in the same period for 2017.
The Ghana Ports and Harbors Authority admitted that the system has challenges but it says some measures are being taken to solve the problems.
General Manager for Marketing and Public Affairs, Esther Gyebi Donkor explained that there is low commitment by stakeholders in solving the challenges.
“Yes, we have worked into a year, we have done a number of reviews as stakeholders and we have identified some of the challenges that we have to solve, but strangely some of these challenges are still there. We have identified them but to take action and ensure that we solve those challenges, are still lingering on.”
Before the introduction of the paperless system, agents could spend weeks to finalize processes and have their goods released to them.
Government is hoping that with the implementation of the paperless system, clearing of goods could be done within four hours in the coming months.
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By Nana Oye Ankrah/Citibusinessnews.com/Ghana