Government has directed the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) to ensure that imported goods do not stay beyond 72 hours at the ports.

Haruna Iddrisu, Minister of Trade and Industry, who made this known, said declaration, inspection, validation, examination, payment and release of goods and services should not exceed 72 hours. He disclosed this during a tour of the Tema Port in the company of Cassiel Ato Forson, a Deputy Finance Minister and Dzifa Attivor, Transport Minister.

“Government expects that within a matter of 72 hours subject to completion of documentation, goods should be clear from the port henceforth.” He said. He further noted Government would also revise the Legislative Instrument (LI) 1976 of Customs regulation, which allows warehousing of goods for a period, as well as increase working hours of Customs officials and personnel of other agencies like the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA).

According to him, government is determined to review the bonded warehouse regime since it has not served its intended purpose due to revenue loss. He said modern scanners would soon be deployed to the various ports in the country to improve the scanning regime generally by the end of the year to facilitate the decongestion at the port.

According to Mr Forson, Customs Division of GRA is expected to raise GH¢208 million for the rest of the year and GH¢416 million for year 2014. Mrs Attivor, on her part, said the dredging and expansion of the port would effectively link the inland port. Isaac Approti, Tema Customs Division Commissioner, mentioned that the Tema Port would from September, this year introduce paperless clearance system at all entry points to speed up the clearance of cargo and maximise revenue.

He said the system, which is being piloted at the Takoradi Port, would be implemented at the various border posts and ports in the country. According to him, the new system, designed by Ghana Community Network Systems (GCNet), is an enhanced process.

Previously importers printed out and made copies of all clearing documents such as bills of lading and import declaration forms.