“Now that UNIPASS is suspended, Mr President take a hard look at those who float projects and procurement opportunities just for graft!” IMANI indicated.
IMANI has been working on trade facilitation issues for years.
He commended the government for suspending UNIPASS but warned government to be careful. Policy Think Tank IMANI is forewarning President Akufo-Addo to take steps to nip corruption in his government before it nips him out of power, as cited by www.ghanaweb.com. This is evident in the dividends GCNET pays to government on a yearly basis.
On Monday the week, IMANI delivered 275 individually addressed letters to Members of Parliament on how Ghana’s trade flow could be disrupted due to the introduction of another similar technology at the ports. We dont benefit directly, but the progress of Ghana is our progress too.
In a report from Kofi Bentil, Vice President of IMANI, Akufo-Addo is being warned to take a hard look at ideas his people float to him for implementation, because most of them are conduits of corruption that could bring him down
In September 2018, DANIDA, a project sponsor recommended that after the January 1, 2019 start date of UNI-PASS, there should be an 18 month development, installation and configuration period. For the purpose of reminders, below are some of the crucial questions IMANI asked.
QUESTIONS:
QUESTION: How much, percentage wise, are revenues likely to increase from the existing situation with the new system? Will this be large enough to offset the potential loss revenue from government shareholding in GCNet?
? How do the combined charges of GCNet and West Blue compare with that of UNI-PASS at 0.75%? Isn’t this financially over burdening the importer?
? What will the transition look like and what consequences will it have for trade facilitation and revenue mobilisation?
? Why is government awarding a higher contract rate for a longer period of 10 years?
? What review processes has the Ministry of Trade carried out recently (can evidence be adduced) to justify the signing of this agreement?
? Can MoTI share the results of the feasibility studies (2015) on the ports, conducted by CUPIA of Korea Customs Services and Ghana Link Network Services,the very companies that have been sole-sourced to cancel existing contracts at huge costs?
? Where is CTN system in all this? Are they being maintained and who is paying for it?. How much is it costing the government?
Source: https://www.ghanaweb.com/
