Customs wraps up preparations towards paperless port

The customs division of the Ghana Revenue Authority is wrapping up preparations towards the take off of the paperless system at the ports. To this end, the division is embarking on training for its officers to ensure a smooth transition from the current mixed grill to the paperless system.

Deputy Commissioner of the division in charge of policy and programmes, Richard Yawotse at a talkshow on the paperless system organised by the Ghana Shippers Authority noted that the division takes cognisance of the fact that the implementation of the paperless system would culminate in a drastic reduction in the human interface and was taking steps to ensure that the officers are trained to man their computers in their respective offices to support the system. ‘’ In house we are also sensitising our officers about this contact business.

That come September 1 and going forward, the contact between the customs officer and the trading public is going to be minimised, drastically minimised so we have been training them now, those who have little knowledge about computers, what to do with the computers, the switch from paper to computers and this is to fully equip them to be able to flow with the new system’’ he said.

Mr. Yawotse intimated that all the systems have virtually been connected with the flow of documents also seamlessly running including the flow of messages, adding that what is now required is sensitisation of the traders.

‘’With sensitisation, one of the things we identified and we have discussed at length is the change management that we are going to have. If we are going to do paperless, then the trading public must endeavour to submit their documents way before the arrival of the goods, so that you can have the opportunity to have the documents issued and any challenges that you might have including values and the likes will be corrected before the goods arrive.

This is important so that we don’t go to delay you in the port and then we have problems with demurrage and all that’’ he opined. Mr Yawotse further stated that the IT systems of the customs division of the Ghana Revenue Authority is always available at all times and encouraged traders and the shipping public to take advantage of the availability of the systems including those for technical partner WestBlue Consulting to ensure they leverage on the system for optimum results.

‘’There is a seamless connectivity between the Pre-Arrival Assessment Reporting System PAARS and the Ghana Customs Management System GCMS for the submission of manifests which will be received in the PAARS and will then be transmitted to other stakeholders including the port Authority.

Indeed with the PAARS, the manifest can also be transmitted to others agencies. There is a seamless connectivity between WestBlue and GcNet, we also have connectivity between the WestBlue system and GcNet and the other regulatory agencies’’ he added.