Freight forwarders protest challenges with clearing system at Tema Port
Some freight forwarders at the Tema Port yesterday protested against what they claimed were delays in the processing of documents to clear their goods from the port, attributing the situation to the full implementation of the Integrated Customs Management System (ICUMS), also known as Uni-Pass, which has taken full charge of cargo clearance at the port.
The protesters, who gathered at the Tema Command of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), chanted: ‘We want GCNet! We want GCNet!!’.
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They demanded that the operating systems of the former service provider, the Ghana Community Network Services (GCNet), be restored to allow them to exit their consignments which were processed and cleared through that system.
Similarly, the group claimed that some shipping agents were unable to load vessel manifests on new imports that had arrived at the port due to the challenges with the new system.
They further alleged that they faced difficulty processing bills of entry (BoEs) on new imports through the ICUMS, as the system either registered the entries as errors or rejected them entirely.
Besides, they said the ICUMS was unable to populate Tax Identification Numbers (TINs) of importers and agents who were commencing the new import declarations.
Intervention
The Minister of Trade, Mr Alan Kyerematen, and his deputy, Mr Carlos Ahenkorah, together with the Commissioner General of the GRA, Mr Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah, and the Commissioner of the Customs Division of the GRA, Col. (retd) Kwadwo Damoah, were at the port to assess the situation.
Col Damoah, who had earlier addressed the group, explained that the technical implementation team had anticipated the challenges and made provisions which were outlined in a new road map that was issued to all stakeholders last Saturday.
While conceding that the demonstrating freight forwarders had genuine concerns, he asked them to channel their complaints to help desks set up at the port for redress.
He added that Meridian Port Services (MPS) had put in measures that allowed for the manual release of cargo once all the processes, from payment to examination, had been exhausted.
Similar arrangements, he said, existed at the terminals operated by the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), as well as Safebond, and other terminals that handled cargo consignments at the port.
“We are not happy they have gathered here, defying the physical distancing protocol and unable to undertake their activities which provide them with livelihoods,” Col Damoah said, and called on the group to exercise restraint because Customs officials had been assigned to assist them address their challenges.
Mr Kyerematen also entreated the protesters to exercise restraint while efforts were made to address their grievances.
