Customs generates 240 billion cedis a month through GCNet

Tema, Jan. 9, GNA - The Customs Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) generated about 240 billion cedis in September last year through the creation of the Ghana Community Net (GCNet).

Before then, 40 billion cedis was realised in a month when it was operating with the old system of customs clearance procedure, Brigadier Richardson E Biaden, Commissioner of CEPS disclosed at Tema on Thursday. He was answering questions from newsmen after accompanying the Minster of Ports, Harbours and Railways on a tour of the port to acquaint himself with the progress of work.

The CEPS introduced the GCNet in May 2003 at Tema, a system aimed at facilitating clearance procedures to enhance revenue mobilisation. It also helps to plug a number of revenue leakages such as wrong declarations and the making of false post entries to smuggle consignments of goods from the ports.

Commenting on the economic benefits of the GCNet, Mr Frank Sarpong, President of the Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders (GIFF) described it as the "best" while a few people interviewed prayed that the system lasted forever to generate revenue for the nation saying that initially they had to move around the Long Room for days before the clearance documents were effected.

Meanwhile, Mr Sarpong and Mr Carlos Ahenkorah, an executive member of the GIFF have called for the coordination of the activities of all related agencies at the port to find a lasting solution to the clearance of goods.

They said the practice where the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GHPA) delayed clearance of goods through revenue collection but made importers to pay demurrage charges was not in the interest of free trade.

The two GIFF executives urged the GPHA to consider suspending the 50 percent increase in demurrage charges while a solution was found to the issue in order to facilitate business.

Mr Ben Owusu-Mensah, Director General of the GPHA explained that once the cargo stayed at the port, demurrage would be charged because so many things went into the protection of the goods. He advised importers to endeavour to expedite clearance procedure to avoid payment of demurrage.

The Minister toured the scanning area, car park, cocoa shed, quay 2 extension, container depot and the Depot/Korea yards. His deputy, Mr Gesika Agambilla, Brigadier R.E. Baiden, Commissioner of CEPS, and Alhaji Dauda Jawula, Director at the Ministry, accompanied him.