Government is entering into a Risky Trade Facilitation Agreement – Imani Warns

Policy think tank, IMANI Africa has warned the government of Ghana about a risky trade facilitation agreement with Ghana Link Network Services Limited.

IMANI described the agreement which introduces a new system for the Provision of a Fully Integrated Trade Facilitation and Customs Management System as an “untested alternative”.

According to IMANI in a recently released review, the already existing ports management system (GCNET and West Blue) “are a few of successful projects successive governments have executed.” Hence an attempt to improve the existing system, despite being welcomed, “should make sense and be justified”.

They added that “all the progress made at the ports [with the effective old system] are under threat because of a determined effort by the Government to replace all the systems with a new untested alternative.”

The policy think tank noted that despite the absence of evidence that the new port systems will work, the authorities are pushing for it, which puts the progress chocked in that area in danger.

“It is therefore most alarming beyond worry that we have no evidence that the success of this new system is even reasonably likely much more expected and further more absolutely guaranteed but there seems to be movement to implement.”

IMANI advised the government to reconsider the agreement deal as it likely to rather complicates matters in such a “multifaceted and layered arrangement covering a crucial sector of the Ghanaian economy, (i.e. Ports)”

Source: Jonas Danquah || ghananewsonline.com.gh