Westblue, GCNET Systems Restored

The challenges encountered at the ports with the introduction of the new Integrated Customs Management System (ICUMS) known as UNIPASS has brought back the old system operated by GCNet and Westblue.

This comes after trade facilitation and revenue generation at the ports came to a total standstill two days, Tuesday and Wednesday and not a single import was cleared because of instructions to let Ghana Link/UNIPASS take over.

The come back of the already two companies would restore calm at the ports and also pave way for importers and exporters to transact business.

“We are okay for now, we hope the backload can be cleared very early though it will take some time”

“I hope the government will allow GCNet and West Blue to operate. They make things work faster, they should allow them to work”, some clearing agents said after the announcement.

Agitation

Following the introduction of the system, Policy think-tank, IMANI Africa, petitioned government to temporarily suspend the operations of UNI-PASS and allow GCNET and West Blue to operate in order to rake in revenue in excess of GHS10 billion for the country considering the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on trade activities.

Also, the Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders questioned the efficacy of system hours to the officially outdooring of the system at the country’s ports.

Critics of the UNIPASS have also cited the presumed distortions that the new system will bring to the shipping community.