Freight forwarders across the country have denied allegations that they are sabotaging the paperless port system.
According to them, they are in full support of the system and doing everything possible to ensure the paperless system succeeds.
The Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders, Customs Brokers Association of Ghana and the Association of Customs House Agents at a press briefing Wednesday described a newspaper report that they were sabotaging the system through under declaration among other ills as false and malicious.
Kwabena Ofosu Appiah, President of the Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders addressing the media said they want the customs division of the Ghana Revenue Authority to establish a strong support desk and manned by an Assistant Commissioner to help address challenges they face while going about the process of clearing their goods through the paperless system
The paperless system started September 1, across the country’s ports.
However, on Monday, officials in charge of the paperless system at the Ports and Harbors resorted to blending the newly introduced system with the manual one.
This followed challenges that characterized the implementation of the paperless system introduced just 11 days ago.
Reporting from the Tema port, Starr Business’ Kennedy Mornah said clearing agents are still complaining about delays in getting their goods cleared days after managers of the Ghana Ports and Harbor promised to revise strategies towards addressing the challenges facing the ongoing implementation of the paperless system.
Meanwhile, Revenue collection at the ports in the first week of September has shot up to GHC230 million compared to the GHC130 million which was raised same time last year, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia has revealed.
He said the development is as a result of the paperless system which has been introduced at the ports.