No judgment debt will result due to UNIPASS deal – GRA

According to him, he is leading a transition team to negotiate with West Blue Consulting and GCNet on the way forward as UNIPASS deploys its customs management system.
He explained that the outcome of the negotiations would determine the decision government would take.
Col. Damoah explained that GRA and the government were scrutinising every aspect of the existing contracts to prevent such loss to the state, noting that “every contract had room for termination.”
He, therefore, rejected assertions that the abrogation of the contract of the two companies operating the current system would result in judgment debts.
Speaking at a meeting with journalists to explain how the UNIPASS system works, Col. Damoah noted that the two companies declined an initial invitation the Ministry of Finance dispatched to them.
In view of this, he said a transition team led by him extended another invitation to the two companies.
According to him, GCNet has responded by presenting a proposal and expects West Blue to also come to the negotiation table for a peaceful way forward.
The Commissioner of Customs Division of GRA told the media that every contract has termination clauses and government would carefully study them to take the right decisions in the interest of the country.
Col. Damoah explained that contracts have overlapping effects, suggesting that the existing service providers could still play a role if so determined.
When asked about possible compensation should government terminate the contracts of the companies, he said provisions in the contract would determine whether compensation would be paid on not.
According to Colonel (Rtd) Damoah, the UNIPASS system had been found to be more efficient than the existing one and would help reduce revenue leakages at the ports and turnaround time involved in port clearance.
He said all preparations needed for the full implementation of the system were far advanced, including the training of 1,400 customs officials and 800 other stakeholders on how to use the system.
A  Deputy Commissioner of the Customs Division of the GRA in charge of Policy and Programmes, Mr Felix Teye Mate Kodjo told the media piloting of the UNIPASS system would start next week  at the Takoradi Port in the Western Region.
According to Mr Kodjo, the pilot of UNIPASS followed a successful test run of direct imports and exports at the Aflao Sector to ensure the system was fit for purpose.
Assistant Commissioner of Customs, Emmanuel Ohene said UNIPASS, essentially, is an electronic customs clearance system which computerises customs procedures and provides for the automation of the clearance process as a solution to overcome the increased volumes in trade and travellers given the limited resources available.
According to him, UNIPASS was composed of 77 modules with five subordinate systems: a Single Window (SW) system; a clearance management system; a cargo management system; an information management system; and an administration system.
He noted that as a prerequisite to introducing the UNIPASS in Ghana, CUPIA conducted a feasibility study of Ghana’s clearance process and supply chain management systems to enable CUPIA produce a robust solution that is suitable for Ghana’s requirements.
Subsequently, he said, CUPIA developers engaged various critical stakeholders to craft Ghana’s version of UNIPASS, but which was to conform to such international standards as of the WCO, WTO and the Kyoto Convention.
Furthermore, he stated that a state-of-the-art data centre backed with fast internet link has been established at the Ministry of Finance to manage both legacy data, as well as new data to be acquired by the UNIPASS.
“This feature tends to consolidate all data that currently are spread over various service providers but not properly linked and utilised as an integrated whole,” he said.
Mr Ohene said in consultation with key stakeholders, the Customs Division, Ghana Link and partners CUPIA have developed various modules to suit Ghana’s trade environment.
“These include processes as Manifest input, Classification and Valuation, Cargo Handling and Clearance, Free Zones, Transit and Bonded Warehousing, Human Resource Administration, and Risk Management.
“These systems have undergone varied scrutiny and have received user-acceptance by customs, a vigorous process that has involved customs staff, and key stakeholders such as customs brokers and freight forwarders, shipping and airlines, insurers, and participating banks,” he stated.

Source: Elvis DARKO /thefinderonline.com