Mona Quartey optimistic about e-zone facility

Mona Quartey, Deputy Minister of Finance, says the establishment of the electronic payment zone facility at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) and Tema port will facilitate business transaction at the country’s ports for both importers and exporters.

The electronic payment zone (e-zone), being deployed by the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and the West Blue Consults has been established as part of the Ghana National Single Window project, is aimed at serving as customer service center for importers and exporters, and facilitate the payment of port charges and other services by international traders.

Deputy Minister Quartey inaugurating the e-zone facility at the KIA urged shippers in the country to make good use of the installation as it will make it more flexible for importers and exporters.

“The establishment of the new facility will make it more flexible for shippers and other stakeholders to transact business. It will also aim at facilitating payment of port charges and other services by exporters and importers,” she said.

She said the facility would make it more flexible for shippers and other stakeholders whiles it will argument revenue for the country.

Muntala Mohammed, a Deputy Minister of Trade and Industries explained that the implementation of the single window has helped reduce the cost and time of doing business with the port adding that: “Even though the project has taken off very well, there are still some challenges which all the stakeholders are working together to solve in order to make business at the ports easy for everyone.

“We can’t say that all our problems have been solved with the implementation of the single window. It is a process, not an event so we are sure that gradually the problem we face in doing business at the ports will soon be reduced to the barest minimum.”

George Blankson, Commissioner-General, GRA said the e-zone would help to boost trade and revenue for government adding that importers could access information and transact business in an easy and convenient way.

“The creation of e-zone at the ports is to serve as a one-stop shop for all exporters. This forms part of measures under the Ghana National Single Window project to synchronise operations at the ports,” Mr Blanskon said.