The government has indefinitely suspended the Advance Shipment Information System (ASHI) which it intended implementing from April 2, 2015. The postponement followed a protest by stakeholders including the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) and Ghana National Chamber of Commerce & Industry (GNCCI) among others who threatened to hit the streets over its implementation.
The ASHI was an electronic platform, which when implemented will have required importers to fill out documentation online with the hope of expediting cargo clearing process.
But the importers insisted that whatever the ASHI aimed at doing was already being taken care of by the destination inspection companies and the GCNet.
Confirming the indefinite suspension, the Public Relations Officer of the Ghana Shippers Authority, Mr Asiedu Dartey told Accra based radio station, Oman FM that the suspension will allow for a more engagement with shippers and freight forwarders on the single window programme to be implemented later in the year.
He said the ASHI has been suspended indefinitely and that government intends to come out with a single window system that would take cognizance of all the issues and concerns raised by stakeholders.
So for cargo that would be coming into Ghana there would be no requirement for an ASHI as originally envisaged to start from April 2015.
He said public engagements would continue with all the stakeholders so as to allow for the smooth running of the new single window programme for the port authorities to implement.
Meanwhile members of the Ghana Union of Traders (GUTA) and Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry have welcomed the suspension of the program.