Paperless ports get $10m support

Customs World, the Dubai-based company that has taken over West Blue Ghana, has disclosed that it would inject an initial investment of $10 million plus into its operations in Ghana.

The company has also stated that as far as its operations in Ghana are concerned, it would be adopting a tried and tested system that is being used in Dubai in the handling and processing of millions of documents every year.

“The system would be tailored made to suit the needs of Ghana, taking into consideration what gaps are there to fill and what additional things we need to do,” Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of DP World and Chairman of Ports, Customs and Free Zones Corporation, Dubai, disclosed when he led a six-member delegation to Ghana last Thursday.

Also in the delegation was Faisal Eissa Lutfi, CEO of Customs World.

The delegation held closed-door meetings at the Flagstaff House with President Akufo-Addo, Vice President Dr Mahamadu Bawumia and Ministers of State.

“We believe the investment we have in the company would be a vehicle to introduce and develop systems that will allow people, logistics and cargo to be able to communicate with each other and ensure final transaction in a record time.

“We believe that in this day and age, technology is very important and systems are very important. We have to be abreast with the best systems and employ them here in Ghana. So, with that, it’s going to help cargo trans-shipment; and it will help link people so that eventually every transaction will move very smoothly, reducing cost of the end users,” Ahmed bin Sulayem assured.

The CEO expressed delight for meeting the president, stating, “I was very impressed with my meeting with the president. He is very focused and knows what he wants and he wants to develop Ghana to be a trading hub in the sub-region.”

Customs World, a subsidiary of Ports Customs and Free Zones Corporation (PCFC), recently acquired West Blue Ghana Limited – the company contracted by government for the provision of the National Single Window and Risk Management System in Ghana.

Adolphe Chaiban, Head of Development, Customs World, said, “We are going to build a unique model for Ghana that will address the country’s challenges at the ports.”

He observed that there are gaps in the current operating model of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), as well as technological.

“We are going to work to fix all that to make sure that there are no more gaps in the system. We are focused on maximizing customers’ satisfaction,” Mr Chaiban said.

Customs World, under the Ports Customs Free Zones Corporation, founded DP World, which is currently present in 40 countries and 78 ports around the world, including Australia, United States of America, United Kingdom, France, Korea, Canada, Belgium, Indonesia, Thailand, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Argentina and India, among others.