UNIPASS platform milking GUTA members dry

The Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA), has appealed to the Akufo-Addo government to speedily fix the challenges bedevilling the implementation of Ghana Revenue Authority’s (GRA)’s new Integrated Customs Management Systems, also known as UNIPASS.

According to the traders, the existing difficulties with the system which is causing delays, are pushing them to pay more for demurrage and rent, a cost they cannot bear.

Statement issued by the GUTA president, Dr. 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 cost 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,” Dr. Joseph Obeng added in the statement.

The UNIPASS/ICUMS platform is a new port clearing system that processes documents and payments through one window; a departure from the previous system where valuation and classification and risk management and payment were handled by different entities.

It is replacing the systems operated by West Blue Consulting and the Ghana Community Service Network Limited (GCNet).

The system which was to see to it that all new transactions in respect of import and export processed only through the Ghana Revenue Authority’s new Integrated Customs Management Systems, took full effect on Monday, June 1, 2020.

But, the first and subsequent days of the system’s roll-out has witnessed increased agitation from freight forwarders at the Tema and Takoradi Ports, as they complained of possible increase in demurrage, the fees paid to shipping lines when goods beat their clearing deadlines.

However, citi FM reports that the Public Relations Manager of Ghana Link, operators of UNIPASS, Norvan Acquah-Hayford, has already stated a technical team is on standby to address the concerns of freight forwarders.

The Commissioner of Customs, Colonel Kwadwo Damoah, also said his outfit is working to address all the problems as soon as possible.

Prior to the take-off of UNIPASS, Policy think-tank, IMANI Africa, petitioned government to temporarily suspend the operations of UNI-PASS and allow GCNET and West Blue to operate for the remainder of the year.

According to them, this is to rake in revenue in excess of GHS10 billion for the country, considering the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on trade activities.

Also, the Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders, questioned the efficacy of system hours to the official outdooring of the system at the country’s ports.

They also predicted revenue losses if the concerns raised by stakeholders on the inefficiencies of the UNIPASS system are not addressed.

Source: The Herald