The Ghana Union of Traders’ Associations (GUTA) is appealing to the government to fix quickly various challenges which have dogged the implementation of the Ghana Revenue Authority’s new Integrated Customs Management System (ICUMS), also known as UNIPASS.
According to GUTA, the existing difficulties with the system, which are causing delays, are pushing them to pay more for demurrage and rent, costs they cannot bear.
In a statement issued by GUTA, the president of the association, Joseph Obeng, said: “Prior to the introduction of the UNIPASS system, we were briefed on the efficiency that the new system would bring to bear on the clearing process at the ports.
“It is therefore a surprise to us that the system is fraught with challenges that cause delay, which eventually costs the importer, in terms of demurrage and rent charges.
“We want to know who bears the cost of such demurrages and rent since the importer is not the cause of the problems in the implementation of the new system,” he added.
The full implementation of the UNIPASS, which experienced challenges in the pilot phase, took off on Monday 1 June 2020, but the process so far has not been smooth.
Demurrage costs
The UNIPASS/ICUMS platform is a new port clearing system which processes documents and payments through one window. This is a departure from the previous system, where valuation and classification and risk management and payment were handled by different entities.
UNIPASS replaces the systems operated by West Blue Consulting and Ghana Community Service Network Ltd (GCNet).
The system, which will reorganise customs procedures so that all new transactions with respect to import and export are processed only through the GRA’s Integrated Customs Management System, took full effect on Monday 1 June 2020.
The early days of the system’s rollout however witnessed rising agitation from freight forwarders at the ports in Tema and Takoradi, as they complained of possible increases in demurrage – the fees paid to shipping lines when goods fail to meet their clearing deadlines.
The Ghana Shippers’ Authority announced exceptional waivers to demurrage but the freight forwarders later complained that shipping lines were ignoring the GSA’s guidelines.
However, Norvan Acquah-Hayford, public relations manager of Ghana Link, which operates UNIPASS, has already said that a technical team is on standby to address the freight forwarders’ concerns.
The Commissioner of Customs, Colonel Kwadwo Damoah (rtd), also said his agency is working to address all outstanding problems as soon as possible.
Freight forwarders oppose
Before UNIPASS launched, IMANI Africa, the policy think tank, petitioned the government to suspend the new operations temporarily and allow GCNet and West Blue to operate for the rest of the year.
GCNet and West Blue say that postponing the introduction of UNIPASS will help customs rake in revenue in excess of GHC10 billion for Ghana. The income is much needed, particularly given the impact of the new coronavirus disease on trade activities.
The Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders also questioned the efficacy of the system hours to the official outdooring of UNIPASS at Ghana’s ports.
They predicted a loss in revenue if the concerns stakeholders have raised regarding inefficiencies of the UNIPASS system are not addressed.
