Clearing agents demonstrate against paperless system

Some freight forwarders in the country have registered their displeasure against the Vice President’s directive for paperless transactions at the ports by September 1.

Hundreds of the freight forwarders staged a demonstration against Customs and the government at the customs Long Room at the Tema Port.

Clad in red and hand bands amid singing and chanting, the furious clearing agents called for the suspension of the paperless transaction.

Even though they stated that they are not against the paperless system, they argued that much education has not been carried out to sensitise them on the processes of the paperless transactions.

They also expressed worry that some of them would be kicked out of business if the paperless system is implemented by September 1.

The President of the Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders, Kwabena Ofosu Appiah who later joined his members in the demonstration also lamented that the interdiction of 218 senior and junior officers of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) who work at the Tema Port is hampering operations at the Customs Technical Services Bureau.

He said the issue is delaying the clearance of goods at the ports.