Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry, Carlos Ahenkorah as expressed shock at the stiff opposition against the introduction of the much-talked about Paperless System at the country’s Ports.
According to him, the system when rolled out will save a lot of time and money especially for Freight Forwaders.
The Paperless System is being rolled out today September 4, 2017. This means, unlike before when exporters and importers processed their documents manually, from today this is expected to be done largely through a computerized system.
But some stakeholders including the Ghana Institute of Freight Forwaders have however expressed misgivings about the system citing teething problems in the pilot implementation.
But speaking on Adom FM’s morning show, Dwaso Nsem Monday, Carlos Ahenkorah maintained that, the paperless system is aimed at reducing the turnaround time for importers.
He noted that, government is also seeking to reduce the revenue losses associated with the high human interface currently being employed.
Carlos Ahenkorah stated that the paperless system is an integral part of the government’s move to block revenue leakages and improve ‘ease of doing business’, hence an important programme.
Outlining the directives, Mr. Ahenkorah said government wants to make the ports the best on the continent, and remove all customs road barriers as well as instructing GCNET and West Blue Consulting to go 100% paperless.
‘The Ghana Ports and Harbors Authority (GPHA) which is the implementing body is working with all relevant institutions to implement the three policies’ he added.
Carlos Ahenkorah charged all key stakeholders to support government in this drive to accelerate Ghana’s development.