Kenyan delegation inspects Tema port X-ray scanner

A three-man Kenya Delegation from the Kenya Revenue Authority and Cotecna Inspection Office of that country on Monday inspected the X-ray Scanner at the Tema Port, which is currently the only one in Africa.

The delegation led by Mr John Munge, Commissioner General of the Kenya Revenue Authority, is in Ghana to study how the Scanner operates for the possible installation of a similar one at the Port of Mombasa.

Mr Munge told newsmen that Ghana's solution to the problems of clearing procedures since the introduction of the X-ray Scanner is now well known through out the world and they were in Tema to study how the system operates.

He said Kenya Customs Officers are currently carrying out 100 per cent physical verification of goods at the port of Mombasa, which handles 260,000 tonnes of cargo annually. This slows down clearing procedures, resulting in wrong declaration of goods and loss of revenue to the state.

Mr Munge said the Scanner is currently the fastest way of clearing goods. It was, therefore, important to introduce it in Kenya to facilitate trade.

Mr Mike Moffett, General Manager of Gateway Services Limited (GSL), operators of the Scanner said Ghana was lucky to have the Scanner, which is one of the five in the whole world.

There are two in Germany and one each in France and the US. Mr Moffett said Ghanaians should, therefore, appreciate the Scanner saying the visit of the Kenyans means Ghana is on the right track.

GSL has a 10-year contract with the government for the operation of the Scanner after which GSL would re-negotiate.