The Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana says the Smart Port Note (SPT) policy will strengthen national security by allowing authorities to know the nature of cargo before vessels arrive at the country’s ports.
According to the Executive Secretary of the Association, Samson Asaki Awingobit, the absence of advance cargo information exposes Ghana to serious risks, including the importation of dangerous and illegal goods.
Speaking on Metro TV’s Good Afternoon Ghana on Monday, January 19,Samson Awingobit said Ghana often only becomes aware of the contents of containers after they have arrived and are being cleared.
“It’s only when the cargo arrives and we are clearing that we get to know what is inside. By then, it becomes panicky. It becomes fear,” he said.
He warned that such gaps pose a threat to port infrastructure and public safety, particularly when highly inflammable materials are involved.
“One container can burn the whole port down. It has happened in so many ports around the world because authorities did not know what was coming,” he noted.
Mr Awingobit explained that the Smart Port Note would introduce pre-export validation, allowing Ghanaian authorities to receive advance information on cargo before it is shipped.
“This will bring advanced information to national security and the government of Ghana about what is coming to our port so we can plan ahead,” he said.
He added that cargo that has not been validated can be flagged early for closer inspection.
“If a container is not validated before leaving the source country, we can alert our security agencies that this vessel is coming with a container we do not know,” he stated.
The Executive Secretary dismissed claims that existing customs systems already provide sufficient protection, arguing that they only come into play after cargo has arrived.
“You cannot hold a system like ICUMS responsible when cocaine or weapons arrive at the port. That is not its work,” he said.
According to him, ICUMS is mainly used for classification and valuation during clearance, not for advance security planning.
Mr Awingobit also rejected suggestions that stakeholders had not been consulted on the Smart Port Note, saying several meetings had been held with trade groups and institutions.
“There have been about two or three engagements at Ghana Ports Authority alone. Last Friday there was an engagement, and as I speak to you now, we are in a meeting on the same issue,” he said.
He insisted that claims of non-engagement were misleading and unfair to institutions involved in the discussions.
“If your executives attend meetings and do not come back to educate you, you cannot issue statements suggesting there has been no engagement,” he added.
Away from security, Mr Awingobit said the policy would help Ghana finally build its own reliable trade database.
“Today, if you ask where Ghana’s trade data is, we cannot point to one institution. That is very worrying for a country,” he said.
He noted that Ghana currently relies on foreign institutions for trade data, often at a cost.
“Anytime we need trade data, we are referring to the World Bank or Bloomberg, and we pay for it. This is our own data. We should not be paying for it,” he said.
Mr Awingobit said the Association fully supports the Smart Port Note and believes it will benefit students, researchers, policymakers and security agencies alike.
“This is something that will help the country, help academia and help government planning,” he said.
