Enforce rules on paperless transactions - GCNet
A Strict enforcement of a paperless process in cargo clearance will be key if Ghana is to achieve the target of eliminating bottlenecks in port processes and trade facilitation, the Ghana Community Network Services (GCNet) has stated.
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According to the Product Development Manager of the company, Mr Carl Sackey, although the project is ambitious considering the September 1, 2017 deadline given by the Vice-President, Dr Mahamadu Bawumia, in line with port reforms, the project is achievable since there is already an infrastructure set up and paperless systems in deployment.
“An importer can actually do all his clearance without carrying any paper anywhere since container movement from one location to another, declarations and applications for bonded warehouses are all done electronically,” Mr Sackey said.
He told the Daily Graphic in an interview in Accra that a paperless reform, which started in 2013 at the Takoradi Port, saw an automation platform being provided for Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) for the issuance of licences and permits related to cargo clearance and trade facilitation.
“There has not been a sustained push to roll out a full paperless service in various trade procedures after some 28 MMDAs were rolled onto the Electronic MDAs (eMDAs) platform in 2013,” he said.
System integration
Mr Sackey pointed out that GCNet had already developed a solution where shipping lines, agents, off-dock terminals and key stakeholders in the processes got electronic delivery notifications.
Similarly, he said, processes were underway to integrate the systems of the Ghana Ports and Harbors Authority (GPHA) so all operators could have a full view of what was going on in the port at every given time.
The system integration will ensure a seamless joint inspection as the electronic alert trigger can send out information from compliance before inspection of cargos.
The process which provides an automatic selection of a customs officer for the inspection, he said, could be deployed for the MDAs and other relevant bodies, so they could also receive a similar trigger that would enable such institutions to also assign an officer to complement the examination processes.
“From the electronic perspective, it is not an issue since there is already an electronic means of sending messages to the freight stations to make the container available for examination, so the same message would go to whichever agency that would be involved in the mandatory inspection process,” Mr Sackey stressed.
He, however, suggested the need for a dedicated terminal for all agencies that might be required for the joint inspection.
Provider Collaborations
Asked whether GCNet would be willing to find a common ground with West Blue Consulting since both providers were engaging in activities aimed at facilitating trade, Mr Sackey pointed out that the two already has some collaboration.
According to him, before an importer could access the Pre-Arrival and Assessment Report System (PAARS) from West Blue, the system automatically required clients to generate a Unique Consignment Reference Number (UCR) from the GCNet system, which is automatically sent to the West Blue system.
“This CCVR which is then generated from West Blue is subsequently sent back to GCNet before importers can process their declarations”, Mr Sackey explained.
“What needs to be done is a clear delineation of scope of the two entities because the general public was made aware that West Blue was coming in to complement GCNet, which had already deployed systems for trade and clearance procedures,” he added.
The present arrangement, where the two technical providers sought to be playing duplicate roles, Mr Sackey said, had created confusion in the minds of the trading public.
GCNet, Mr Sackey stated, was brought in to provide a single window, a trade network that is in deployment for importers, shipping lines, freight stations, the MDA platforms and the Customs management systems.
“That is why we have this challenge where the public thinks GCNet and West Blue are engaged in a turf war and it would be important for the government to set the tone on what the mandates of the two bodies are,” Mr Sackey emphasised.
System breakdown
GCNet was reported to have lately been experiencing frequent interruptions of its system at the port leading to delays in processing cargo clearance documentations.
Officials recently sent messages which read “Dear Valued Client, we are currently experiencing a technical challenge which is affecting access to GICCS and eMDA portal. We are taking urgent steps to restore service and will keep you updated when resolved. We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience caused.”
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Another message read: “Dear Valued Client, Processing time for declaration in GICCS is taking longer than normal. We do appreciate your patience as we take steps to normalise it. We apologise for the inconvenience caused.”
Mr Sackey indicated that from a customer service point of view, it was important for the company to keep its customers informed as and when challenges arose since they have networks that are running within public networks and across the country.
“If you have a link that has challenge even at the minimum collection point, there is the need to broadcast to our clients.”
“We read articles that said GCNet had been down for two weeks. If we were down for two weeks, we would be out of business, because what it means is that government cannot collect revenue for two weeks,” he said.
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Mr Sackey said GCNet in June processed some 22,937 validated declarations made up of 1,649 exports, 17,082 import and 4,203 for other declarations.
Paid declarations for the said period, he said, stood at 22,558 for both export and import, while 377 unpaid declarations were recorded.
“Cleared declarations were 19,200 while uncleared declarations at the same period were 3,425”, Mr Sackey said.
“There may often be network interruptions but we work continually to improve these things to ensure seamless process and for 2017, we are spending in excess of $6 million on operations to replace various components of our machinery that have reached their life cycle since one of our key focus is to make sure we don’t keep people’s goods at the port since they could pay hugely in demurrage,” he said.
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