The Customs Brokers Association, Ghana (CUBAG) has announced its readiness to roll out a mobile app to facilitate the association’s activities.
It is optimistic that the app will enhance proper data building and management, enable members to easily access information, conduct survey, research, solicit feedbacks and networking opportunities.
At its maiden CEO’s Launchon in Tema, acting President of the Association, Nana Fredua Agyeman Ofori-Atta, also introduced to stakeholders the CUBAG Training Institute (CTI), which was borne out of the need for regular training of its members, and for continuous professional development (CPD).
According to him, the leadership of the association and directors of member-companies had all identified the increasing decline in standards, and an acute shortfall in the required manpower and skill set at all levels of employment. He added that these challenges are even more accentuated as one goes down to the lower levels.
“Field officers are no longer proficient as you would expect them, and Declarants/ Secretaries are half-baked et al. These give rise to inefficiencies in the clearing and forwarding processes and the entire value chain which add up to the existing bureaucracies, and ultimately increase the cost of doing business at our ports,” he said.
Mr. Agyeman Ofori-Atta further implored the GRA Customs, ICUMS management, and all other regulators whose procedures and processes impinge on port efficiency to assist CUBAG in its quest to halt this downward trend through collaborative training.
He said organising the event for its top-30 CEOs is to afford them the opportunity to have high level engagements among themselves and industry captains.
The semi-formal event saw CUBAG engage management of logistics companies, customs authorities, regulatory agencies, and the media on contemporary challenges in their trade.
Nana Fredua Agyemang Ofori-Atta said the association will continue to foster strong collaborations that will move the industry in the right direction.
He also said deliberations are expected to be formally organised and presented to authorities with the aim of influencing future policies for the sector.
The Chief Executive Officer of Meridian Ports Services (MPS), Mohammed Samara, emphasised the significance of information technology in the shipping and logistics sector.
Mr. Samara said: “Now, with one finger, drivers can offload and unload goods at our terminal. I encourage you to talk to our IT support and our IT team so we can integrate you into our system and bring you into the ecosystem”.
Assistant Commissioner in charge of the Tema Sector Command of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority, Aweya Julius Kantum, underscored the relevance of compliance in the attainment of revenue targets.
The Executive Director of Ghana’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Dr. Henry Kwabena Kokofu, also said his outfit is working assiduously to ensure challenges associated with access to permits and approvals are solved.
“We intend to establish a permanent desk at the various ports to provide support services to help resolve the issues associated with permits and approvals,” he said.
