Eric Amoah Amponsah, Head of the Research Committee of the Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders, has clarified that industry players are not opposed to technological upgrades at Ghana’s ports, but are concerned about the implementation of the Publican AI system.
According to him, while the government’s move to deploy the Publican AI platform through the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) is aimed at improving customs valuation and revenue mobilisation, the current structure is creating operational challenges for freight forwarders.
Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show on Thursday, April 9, 2026, Mr. Amoah Amponsah emphasised that the Institute fully supports the modernisation of port systems and the adoption of technology to enhance efficiency.
“As an institution, we are not against generating revenue for the state or upgrading our system electronically. We were doing manual entry, then we changed to GCNet, then to GhanaLink, and then to ICUMS. So we don’t have a problem with that at all,” he stated.
He, however, argued that the implementation of the Publican AI platform—particularly its appeals process—is flawed and undermines the intended benefits of digitalisation.
Mr. Amoah Amponsah explained that under the new system, a centralised committee has been established to handle appeals from freight forwarders, but it sits only twice a week, compelling operators from across the country to travel to Accra to resolve issues.
“Before Publican AI was brought into the frame, every appeal was handled at the point of entry. If I am in Paga and I have a problem that needs to be resolved, you don’t have to come to Accra. Now, instead of us running a decentralised system, everybody has to rush to Accra. How does this AI help in this situation?” he questioned.
He noted that this centralisation is particularly burdensome for freight forwarders operating outside major ports like Tema and Takoradi, as it disrupts their workflow and increases operational costs.
“If I am handling about 100 containers in Paga and I have a problem with 30, I have to leave and come to Accra to address it. Remember, Tema and Tarkoradi are not the only points of entry in this country,” he added.
He further raised concerns about the capacity of the appeals committee, questioning how it can effectively manage the high volume of cases given its limited sittings.
“If all other points of entry are supposed to converge in Accra, and yet they sit only twice in a week, we want to know the number of documents they will be able to review in a sitting. If you are having about 200 people moving to their office, we want to know how they will manage the situation,” he said.
The Institute is therefore calling for a review of the implementation framework of the Publican AI system to ensure that while technological upgrades are embraced, they are deployed in a manner that supports efficiency, decentralisation, and seamless trade facilitation.
