The\u00a0Public Relations Officer of NCS who confirmed \u00a0to Citi News that the letter was indeed written by his boss.<\/p>\n
West Blue has faced stiff opposition ever since it emerged that the Presidency had directed that the company must be given the contract to operate a national single window at the nation\u2019s ports.<\/p>\n
Critics and industry players have argued that West Blue had failed in Nigeria for which reason the Nigerian government is working to kick them out of that country and recalling some Destination Inspection agencies to come back and work in Nigeria.<\/p>\n
The letter from the Controller has however given some credibility to the performance of West Blue in Nigeria.<\/p>\n
The letter was in response to an initial letter written to them by the GRA boss requesting information West Blue Consulting in Nigeria Customs Service take-over of Destination Inspection (DI) project from contracted Service Providers (SP) in December 2013.<\/p>\n
In the letter, the NCS boss explained that the services of West Blue were sought at a time when the SPs were not being sincere in their dealings.<\/p>\n
Among West Blue\u2019s achievements was the setting up of a establishment of a new trade portal which provided round the clock online, real time information about Nigeria International Trade, spearheading the development of the Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR) for pre-arrival processing of Nigerian imports; a project which he claimed has been a success story by increasing revenue by about 20%, among others.<\/p>\n But the president of the Concerned Freight Forwarders Association, Dennis Effah on the on the Point Blank<\/em><\/strong> segment of Eyewitness News<\/strong> said the authenticity of the letter cannot be guaranteed because he has another letter from the Nigerian Customs Controller in which he complained about the delays in their ports.<\/p>\n He asked questioned why the NCS boss is now singing a different tune in his letter to the GRA.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy this letter and why now? Is it because we started talking and asking questions? Is that that Ghana attained independence to be paying judgment debt? No!\u201d<\/p>\n He asked government to scrutinize the activities of West Blue before signing the contract.<\/p>\n \u201cDo we need West Blue now? What is it that the DICs and GCNET\u2019s single window platform is doing that is not right; that necessitates awarding a contract to West Blue?\u201d he quizzed.<\/p>\n According to Mr. Effah, contracting West Blue will be of no benefit to Ghana.<\/p>\n He asked, \u201cwho told you West Blue is going to keep all their money here?\u201d adding that \u201ctheir headquarters is in the United Kingdom\u201d therefore, it is imperative that \u201cwe should take our time; this is not the time to get some company\u2019s contracted abrogated because we think we are going in for the big fish but we would end up with a worm.\u201d<\/p>\n Mr. Effah suggested that instead of seeking the services of West Blue, government should rather help expand GCNET\u2019s platform which is already providing the services West Blue is being contracted to undertake.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2026if the government thinks that the DICs and GCNET are not working properly or there are certain things that we have to change, meet them and get it changed than to let us go back and start all over again.\u201d<\/p>\n The Freight Forwarders are nonetheless going to file a suit at the court next week Tuesday to force government to rescind its decision \u201cbecause we think it didn\u2019t go through the appropriate channel.\u201d<\/p>\n They are also planning to meet the President and speak to him by making their case as to why \u201cwe can\u2019t press the try and error button with our freight and trade industry<\/p>\n <\/p>\n –<\/p>\n By: Efua Idan Osam\/citifmonline.com\/Ghana![\"Dennis](\"http:\/\/4cd.e16.myftpupload.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/denis-4.jpg\")
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