A former deputy minister Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed has questioned “the sense” behind the Universal Pass (UNIPASS) takeover of Ghana’s ports.
A dramatic failure on the first day of its takeover forced government to revert the Single Window system that was set up and being run by the Ghana Community Network Limited and WestBlue.
Speaking to Sena Nombo on the Gold Power earlier today, the former deputy trades minister said the whole takeover did not add up.
According to Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, the move derailed years of work aimed at ensuring that government resumes control of the trade facilitation arrangements at the ports.
He believes the arrangement between the Government and WestBlue was getting Ghana closer to that aim judging from the high commendation the system received when the Nana Akufo-Addo administration took over.
Ghana’s road to automation started under the Rawlings regime but took off in 2002 under the JA Kuffour regime when GCNET resumed its work at the port.
However between 2014 and 2016, the John Mahama administration undertook an arrangement with WestBlue that led to the introduction of the Single Window System that was renamed Paperless and highly recommended for reducing waiting time and demurrage at the ports.
Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, who was a Trades minister at the time WestBlue was contracted, said a key part of the arrangement with WestBlue was to empower Ghana’s Customs to take over the Single Window system.
He is convinced the only explanation for UNIPASS is “chop-chop” considering it would add nothing to an already efficient automated port system.
Source: Gold Power Drive/Radiogoldlive.com
