Importers and Exporters are casting doubts over the track record and capacity of Truedare Investments Limited – the company contracted by government to deploy the AI platform at the ports from January 2026.
They say the Cyprus-based firm only commenced operations last year, raising questions about its ability to manage a system critical to port operations.
“The company, and I want to emphasise was set up on 28 December 2024 and it is expected to begin port operations as early as January 2026. Its mandate concerns the AI-driven automation, pre-arrival inspections, and cargo data verification system. However, based on all available public records and our investigation shows that Truedare has no documented prior technical expertise in port automation or AI system available”, Executive Secretary of the Association, Samson Asaki Awingobit said at a press conference on Thursday.
Members fear introducing an untested system could undermine efficiency.
The Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana says it supports port modernisation but stresses that any AI platform must integrate seamlessly with the existing Integrated Customs Management System (ICUMS) to prevent duplication, revenue leakages, and disruptions to customs processes.
He also criticised the lack of clarity on the project and insufficient stakeholder engagement ahead of the proposed rollout, demanding more transparency and due diligence to safeguard the efficiency of port operations.
“The company was just established last year, so there is no track record to prove to me that they have worked in any other country, and so they are bringing the same system into Ghana. There are currently no verifiable records of revenue that they’ve collected before, when ICUMS has been able to rake US$3 billion for us”, he lamented.