The Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders (GIFF) is threatening a 3-day sit-down strike over the government’s refusal to suspend Customs’ newly adopted AI-valuation platform, the Publican AI System.
The freight forwarders allege that the Publican AI system is flawed and has, since its introduction, frustrated industry players with exorbitant duty values.
Addressing members at a durbar held in Takoradi on April 13, the Western Regional Chairman of GIFF, Paul Ato Bentil, argued that invoices generated by the AI system are ridiculously high and have overburdened importers.
He mentioned that several calls to the Finance Ministry for reconsideration of the platform have all fallen on deaf ears.
Mr Ato Bentil added that the government’s resolve to rely on the Publican AI system could have serious repercussions on trade and the local economy.
“A significant number of importers are unable to clear their consignments, leaving goods stranded at the port. This unfortunate situation has far-reaching implications. It adversely affects our clients, disrupts our businesses and ultimately undermines the broader national economy.
“When goods remain uncleared, trade is impeded, financial losses accumulate and confidence in our port systems steadily erodes,” he explained.
While clarifying their position on the adoption of the AI system, Mr Ato Bentil called for broad engagement and realignment of the system to conform with the principles of the World Customs Organization.
“We respectfully call on the relevant authorities to undertake a comprehensive review of these exorbitant charges in respect of the newly introduced Publican AI, and to compare them with World Customs Organization rules of engagement under the applicable provisions of Act 891, sections 67 and 68 respectively.”
The Chairman of the Takoradi chapter of the Customs Brokers Association of Ghana, Joseph Williams Aidoo, disclosed that container clearance at Takoradi Port has been on a sharp decline since the introduction of the Publican AI system. He warned that the economy could be plunged into an inflationary crisis as importers will have no other option than to pass these duty payments on to the final consumer.
“We are gradually collapsing the Ghanaian economy. Takoradi Port is barely clearing three containers a day. Importers are now withdrawing from this trade, fearing the huge losses they will incur importing goods into the country.
“At worst, all these costs will be pushed to the final consumer,” he reiterated.
Relatedly, the Ghana Union of Traders’ Associations (GUTA) has called for the suspension of the Publican AI system.
The association argues that the new system has severely disrupted trade and fears that the situation, if left unchecked, could undermine business continuity across the country.
By Abraham Mensah
