Heavy losses at Tema port

The Evening News writes that when a year ago a scanning machine was installed at the Tema Harbour amidst intense publicity and fanfare, the impression created was that it would facilitate the clearing of imported goods at the harbour.

"However, later events have proved that it is a massive fraud visited on the people of Ghana as the state continues to lose millions of cedis in revenue collection."

The machine was installed by Gateway Services Limited (GSL) and is being operated by SCANCO, a subsidiary of GSL, which is strongly connected to some powerful NDC gurus. Officials of the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS), according to investigations, have no hand in the operation of the scanner.

It was realized that the scan only gives X'ray view of the goods in the container without providing the actual make and quantity of the goods.

"The GSL is playing the role of a referee and at the same time a player. It generates the invoices and then carries out the scanning through SCANCO, its subsidiary company," the paper said. Through this process, importers collude with officials at the GSL under-declare the quantity and actual cost o the goods, thus, avoid paying the stipulated import and other duties.

The investigations by the paper concluded that to eliminate the rapid loss of revenue the government should as a matter of urgency review the entire agreement relating to the operation of the scanning machine and allow the physical examination of all important goods.