Citi Business News<\/strong> expressed their dissatisfaction with the development.<\/p>\n\u201cNothing has changed in my line of duty; I\u2019m into free zone exports and imports. Currently, we\u2019re still writing landing accounts. The only thing that has changed is compliance officers being moved from Tema to headquarters. We\u2019re still writing landing accounts. Officers are still going to the field to check containers. The things we were doing previously we\u2019re still doing them, nothing has changed. If they know something has changed they should let us know,\u201d one clearing agent bemoaned.<\/p>\n
Another also remarked that, \u201cIt is the same process we\u2019re using, its only compliance that is not in Tema, and even that one there are issues. Because if the officer in Accra doesn\u2019t understand something, how would I manage to explain things to him so that my work will go? The 4-hours for getting goods cleared is a facade. Sending compliance from Tema to Accra is the only difference, nothing else. We still join the preventive queue and we still go to GPHA for revenue. We\u2019re still holding our papers for examination.\u201d<\/p>\n
One clearing agent mentioned that, \u201cIf I apply online and pay online, that is what you refer to as paperless. Currently, if I apply for the invoice from GPHA, I have to print a document and bring documents from the office. So I don\u2019t think there is a paperless system. The only difference is the movement of compliance from the long room to head office.\u201d<\/p>\n
Paperless systems increase revenue<\/strong><\/p>\nThe paperless clearing system started on September 1, 2017.<\/p>\n
It followed a directive by the Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, that the port authorities automate all processes to reduce human interaction.<\/p>\n
The move was also to reduce the turnaround time for businesses and eliminate corruption.<\/p>\n
According to the Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, revenue increased from GHc130 million in the first week of September 2016, to GHc213 million in the same period for 2017.<\/p>\n
Freight forwarders\u2019 perspective<\/strong><\/p>\nA Technical Committee Member of the Freight Forwarders\u2019 Association, Johnny Mantey, also shared his thought on the development.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat has changed is that, you don\u2019t have to carry documentation into the long room anymore; that has now been put on the compliance platform. You now don\u2019t need to go to long room anymore. It is the port process that is still the same. Though you go to the port and everything is on the system, you still have to sometimes print your documentation to go through the process. What pertains is no departure from the old system.\u201d<\/p>\n
On how to reverse the trend, Mr. Johnny Mantey pushed for a review of the total process to identify the lapses.<\/p>\n
He said the outfit has already embarked on a process to get the concerns addressed.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Ghana Institute of Freight forwarders is doing an assessment of the paperless port system currently, and will come out with a report soon.\u201d<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, efforts to reach the Customs Division of the GRA for a reaction to these concerns have so far been unsuccessful.<\/p>\n
\u2013<\/p>\n
By: Elvis Washington & Bobbie Osei\/citibusinessnews.com\/Ghana<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Freight forwarders operating at the Tema Port are lamenting over what they call a return of the manual clearing system at the ports. The concerns by the businesses come barely three months into the start of the paperless clearing system. Citi Business News\u2019 Tema correspondent, Elvis Washington, reports that many of the clearing agents and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":375428,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[32,10,11],"tags":[3,10398,52],"yoast_head":"\n
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