Ghana’s sea and air ports to go paperless by September 2017

The Ghana Community Network Services Limited (GcNET) has expressed confidence in meeting government’s deadline to achieve 100 percent paperless transactions at the ports by September this year.

GcNET says there have been positive engagements with stakeholders, who are ready to leverage on the experience of similar pilot projects at the Takoradi port and Kotoka international airport.

Government has rolled out a three-phase policy reform to make Ghana’s ports competitive on the continent.

As part of the process the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has been directed, to make all transactions at the Ports paperless by September.

Technical partners of the GRA, GcNet said it has commenced engagements with stakeholders at the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, customs and shipping lines to achieve the target.

In an interview with TV3 Chief Technical Officer of GcNet, Mathew Soputamit said “it was exciting to us because we knew we had the capacity and infrastructure to make that possible so we have started engaging all the stakeholders.

According to GcNet, it will leverage on its experience of executing a similar project at the Takoradi Port and the Kotoka International Airport.

“We had difficulties rolling out in Tema after the successful pilot just because there was no much strong will to implement it” Mr. Soputamit added.

GcNET says the 100 percent paperless transformation at the ports would improve Ghana’s standing in relation to ease of doing business.

He further added that “at the port, apart from the revenue we generate, we also want to facilitate trade to make things easier for importers, clearing agents and anybody involved in this process.”