The Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) has achieved 99 per cent paperless operational system one year after its introduction in the country.
The paperless port system, a government policy announced by Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia in May 2017, took off from September 1, 2017.
Esther Gyebi-Donkor, General Manager, Marketing and Corporate Affairs of GPHA, said GPHA’s IT systems had been integrated with that of Ghana Community Network (GCNet).
Mrs Gyebi-Donkor added that information from shipping lines, manifest and GPHA’s billing system have all been made electronic as part of the paperless system.
She indicated that Ecobank and Agriculture Development Bank (ADB), which are associate banks in the clearing process, had also been integrated into the GCNet system, making their information electronic.
She, however, added that clients still make physical payments at the banks, adding that measures were being put in place to provide online payments to stakeholders.
The remaining one per cent, she observed, has to do with consolidated cargoes, which have not been captured under the paperless system.
She, therefore, charged stakeholders, especially the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), to ensure maximum efficiency.
Mrs Gyebi-Donkor said GPHA was putting in place a system which would enable importers to access the needed information which include handling charges to be paid.
This, she said, would create a transparent system for importers and the trading public.
Mrs. Gyebi-Donkor indicated that there is still a lot more to be done in order to perfect the system, adding that the short notice between the day the directive is given and the implementation day creates some initial challenges in piloting a flawless process.
She said the paperless system has improved container throughput tremendously, stressing that the system has led to the reduction in turnaround time of vessels.
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