The Corporate IT Manager at the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, Francis Donkoh has disclosed that the Authority has introduced an e-payment portal to enable clients transact business with the Authority more conveniently in a secure way.

According to him, Clients can access the portal by logging on to the Port Authority’s website, www.ghanaports.gov.gh where they can pay for all terminal handling charges either via Visa, Mastercard and even mobile money.

Speaking on Eye on Port, Mr. Donkoh said aside being able to pay from one’s home or office, transactions via this method are not restricted to the working hours of GPHA’s offices.

He revealed that, “when you key in your card details, it is encrypted. No one can see it. We also do what we call, two-factor authentication, which means payment on the platform will not be complete unless you get an alert on your phone and you authorize that. Meaning if someone gets hold of your card, without your consent, he or she cannot complete any payment.”

He said doing business electronically, saves time and money, eliminates the risk of carrying physical cash, and is COVID-19 compliant.

The Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, he stated has also rolled out a mobile app which can be accessed on the google play store for android phones, and app store for iPhones.

The Corporate IT Manager said the app comes with four main functions which include invoice validation, agent status check, vessel tracker and invoice calculator.

He explained that this intervention solves the problem of fake invoices produced by some unscrupulous individuals to defraud clients of the port. Mr. Donkoh assured that, “with this mobile app, with the invoice number you will know exactly what GPHA is charging you.”

He said the GPHA Mobile App also provides relevant local port and maritime news and activities from the flagship Eye on Port program.

The Ghana Shippers’ Authority in collaboration with its stakeholders in the trade and transport industry has held a sensitization workshop for haulage truck drivers and owners on key issues that impact the conduct of transit trade along Ghana’s corridors.

Key among the issues discussed include road safety, the transportation of dangerous and hazardous cargo as well as the haulage truck driver’s role in avoiding unnecessary cost in the shipment of transit cargo through Ghana’s ports.

The Chief Executive Officer at the Ghana Shippers’ Authority, Benonita Bismarck in a speech read on her behalf by Fred Aseidu Dartey, Head of Freight Services said quarterly fact-finding missions embarked upon by her outfit on the transit corridor unearthed serious infractions of Ghana’s Road Traffic Regulations, Police Harassment, and Malpractices at the Axel Load Stations.

“The outcome of the latest fact finding trip which was done only last week on the Tema-Hamile corridor recorded 55 Police and MTTD stops,” he revealed.

The General Manager in Charge of Marketing and Corporate Affairs at the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, Esther Gyebi-Donkor who served as Chairperson for the programme said the reformation process of the Joint Association of Port Transport Unions (JAPTU), embarked on by GPHA and the Shippers Authority is intended to improve unity and effectiveness among the transport unions.

“The Port Authority will not license any transport union to operate in the Port if it is not part of the JAPTU arrangement. It is practically impossible for the Port authority and other stakeholders to deal with individual transport unions to achieve policy objectives in the operations and management of our port economy,” she averred.

She said with the Port Authority making necessary investments in the transit trade such as the construction of the truck park at Paga border, the onus lies on other stakeholders within the trade such as the truck drivers to adhere to security and operational guidelines at the ports in order to be competitive.

With the help of demonstrations, the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Road Safety Authority underscored the importance of following safety guidelines for the protection of drivers, cargo, society, and the environment.

The Executive Secretary of the Joint Association of Port Transport Unions (JAPTU), Ibrahim Musah said the issues discussed will inure to the enhancement of their operations.

The Director of the Port of Takoradi, Capt. Ebenezer Afadzi, has stated that Ghana’s ports are committed to ensuring its human resource have the requisite capacity necessary for the delivery of world class services to its clients.

The Director of Port, who was speaking during a passing out ceremony for 72 security personnel, said it is in this light that the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority organizes regular and mandatory training programs for its new recruits.

“This ceremony signifies GPHA’s commitment to uphold and fulfil its national and international obligations for ensuring world class standards of security its port facilities,” he said.

The 72 recruits successfully passed out following a month-long intensive training at the Sekondi Naval Base where they obtained the essential physical preparedness and intellectual skills for the discharge of duties as security personnel at Ghana’s premier port. Capt. Afadzi admonished the recruits to always exhibit the GPHA core values of humility, integrity and hard work introduced to them, in the discharge of their duties.

“You have been taken through drills, physical training, port security ethics and other academic courses. These in no doubt have equipped you with the requisite knowledge, skills and confidence to be able to effectively discharge your duties as port security staff,” he stated.

Steps to strengthen bilateral cooperation between Ghana and Nigeria towards improved maritime security are ongoing.

67 students from the Nigerian Armed Forces Staff College have visited the Port of Tema as part of a study tour to boost information exchange with respect to trending security issues such as maritime security.

“The purpose of our visit is to research on topical issues affecting the African subregion. This year our theme is National Efforts towards Improved Regional Security,” Lt. Col. Musa, spokesperson of the group said.

Receiving the delegation, the Tema Port Security Manager, Col. Emmanuel Nyante educated the students on standard security procedures at the Port in mitigating internal and external security threats.

“The Tema Port is ISPS compliant,” he emphasized.

He also emphasized the importance of strengthened regional cooperation towards the fight against piracy that is bedevilling the Gulf of Guinea.

Principal Marketing and Public Affairs Officer at the Port of Tema, Lydia Tham, also underscored the adaptive measures adopted by the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority and its relevant health and security stakeholders in ensuring business continuity during the advent of COVID-19.

“Our health personnel go on board, equipped fully, to take specimen of ship’s crew for testing at anchorage even before the vessel is allowed to dock in the port,” she revealed.

The Deputy Commissioner in Charge of Ethics and Good Governance at the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority, Alhaji Seidu Iddrisu Iddisah has called on policy makers in Ghana to enforce the international practice where goods bound for transit must be containerized.

The Deputy Commissioner who was speaking on the Eye on Port programme, said this is important for the purposes of security of cargo, proper tracking and monitoring and road safety.

According to him, cargoes slated for transit to the neighbouring countries or those under any of customs’ suspense regimes in Ghana are usually non-containerized and often reinforced with tarpaulins or other binding material subjecting it to possible manipulation.

“Most often you will see cargo on open trucks. Sometimes when they (truck drivers) leave the port, they load over the recommended height and weight so when they get to the weighbridge, they offload some to appear compliant. All this is done at the blind side of customs.”

Alhaji Seidu Iddrisu Iddisah lamented that the non-implementation of this standard practice in the subregion saying it contributes to some of the malpractices and loopholes such as inaccurate cargo tracking, and cargo diversion associated with the transit trade.

The Deputy Commissioner in Charge of Ethics and Good Governance explained that cargo containers have been designed to enable easy fixing of tracking devices which promotes accurate monitoring of transit bound cargoes.

He however disclosed that the attention of the hierarchy at the Customs Division of the GRA has been drawn and hopefully some remedy would be provided by government.

He also said his outfit will strengthen collaboration with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority and Road Safety Authority to ensure that laws governing the use of roads such as road worthiness are abided by in the transit trade.

He disclosed that the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) in collaboration with its partners from the United States of America, under the Security Governance Initiative is working towards the introduction of an e-cargo tracking system.

According to Alhaji Seidu Iddrisu Iddisah, the e-tracking system when deployed will provide durable smart devices with long lasting battery life that can trigger alarms during any abusive practices.

He said, “there are some which have the power to last for about two months which other jurisdictions are using. They also have devices that, at any of the intervening stations or checkpoints, you can point to the tracker and it will give you details of the declaration of the goods inside. So, if there is any tampering, it would give alerts.”

The Deputy Commissioner said the prospective e-tracking system due to its smart technology and features will serve as support to the existing trackers being deployed in the country currently.

He said a flawless cargo tracking system would inure to the benefit of all parties in the transit trade because it would lead to the decongesting of the port, secure state revenue, facilitate trade while fishing out offenders.

The Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) in collaboration with its partners from the United States of America, under the Security Governance Initiative is working towards the introduction of a modern e-cargo tracking system.

According to the Deputy Commissioner in Charge of Ethics and Good Governance at Customs, GRA, Alhaji Seidu Iddrisu Iddisah, the e-tracking system when deployed will provide durable smart devices with long lasting battery life that can trigger alarms during any abusive practices.

He said, “there are some which have the power to last for about two months which other jurisdictions are using. They also have devices that, at any of the intervening stations or checkpoints, you can point to the tracker and it will give you details of the declaration of the goods inside. So, if there is any tampering, it would give alerts.”

The Deputy Commissioner said the prospective e-tracking system due to its smart technology and features will serve as support to the trackers being deployed in the country currently.

“This facility will provide real time monitoring. The intention is that for goods with high revenue and security implications, we will use this in addition to what exists.”

He said a flawless cargo tracking system would inure to the benefit of all parties in the transit trade because it would lead to the decongesting of the port, secure state revenue, facilitate trade while fishing out offenders.

The top Customs official said the vision of this project is to see strengthened collaboration between neighbouring customs, where tracking of cargoes can be done beyond the borders of Ghana.

Alhaji Iddisah said, “we saw that being done in Kenya. Somebody could move with transit goods from the port of Mombasa and it will be monitored up to Rwanda or Uganda.”

He revealed that phase 1 of the project comprised the highlighting of some challenges associated with tracking of transit cargo and some inputs for improvement.

Phase 2 of the project will see the introduction of a prototype that takes into consideration the inherent problems identified.

Phase 3 will see full deployment.

Alhaji Seidu Iddrisu Iddisah said findings revealed some inaccuracies associated with the monitoring of cargoes due to strength of devices, insufficient gadgets, internet connectivity problems, among others which have contributed to some delays and malpractices like cargo diversion.

Alhaji Iddisah said Security Governance Initiative is also working towards improving interoperability among security agencies to facilitate trade, augment cargo security, revenue collection and road safety.

He revealed that the Security Governance Initiative has seen the United States Government collaborate with other African countries such like Kenya, Niger, Tunisia and Nigeria, with this e-tracking system being successfully deployed in some countries.

He said the procurement and operational process will be funded by the United States Government through its Customs and Border Protection Agency and the estimated cost of project is yet to be declared.

The General Manager in Charge of Health Services at the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, Dr. Vitus Victor Anaab-Bisi has emphasized that the Port Authority and its allied stakeholders remain stringent in the application of the standard protocols for crew embarkation and disembarkation at the ports of Ghana.

Responding to some reportage that circulated the media space suggesting that the ports have neglected testing procedures for ship’s crew, the Head of Health Services at GPHA refuted this assertion.

“Nobody has come, or nobody will come into our country through the ports without being screened. I think that statement attributed to the Member of Parliament is not factual and it is unfortunate,” he expressed.

Dr. Anaab-Bisi who is the also the Incident Commander of the Port Community COVID-19 Committee, said on the Eye on Port programme that its measures were in recognition of the important role the seaports could play in mitigating the spread or otherwise because the ports are indispensable to the nation’s economy.

He said the allied institutions at the ports participating in the enforcement of COVID-19 related protocols have been resolute in ensuring compliance since March 2020, despite some decline in adherence to the protocols nationwide.

The General Manager in Charge of Health Services disclosed that there are clear mandatory procedures for the reception of vessels, handling of crew embarkation and disembarkation at the seaports where the various stakeholders which are, the Port Authority, Port Health, the Shipping Agent, Ghana Maritime Authority and Ghana Airports Company Limited are compelled to follow the stipulated guidelines.

Dr. Anaab-Bisi said under no circumstance are crew of vessels, allowed into the country without testing and proper monitoring.

He revealed that the GPHA Clinic has since the advent of COVID-19, tested 796 crew members overall, with 14 recorded positive cases and no deaths.

The General Manager in Charge of Health Services at GPHA also said that, way ahead of the detection of the coronavirus in Ghana, the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority and its allied stakeholders had to be proactive in sensitising the Port Community for the imminent fight against the virus and that has proved to yield some positive results.

Serene Insurance, one of Ghana’s leading indigenous insurance companies has called on the trading public to purchase its attractive marine insurance policies during the importation and exportation of their goods to and from the country.

Marine Insurance has become imperative for shipping worldwide from both a legal as well as a business perspective. Its importance to international trade cannot be overemphasized.

Speaking on Eye on Port on the impact of marine insurance on Ghana’s Maritime Trade, the Head of Marketing at Serene Insurance, Mrs. Eugenia Agyiri-Tettey entreated the importing public in Ghana to purchase its marine insurance policy which covers transfer of goods from the warehouse of the supplier abroad to the warehouse of the buyer in Ghana.

The Head of Marketing at Serene Insurance explained that purchasing marine insurance saves traders from dire ramifications associated with loss or damage of expensive cargoes.

“These are capital intensive investments. Assuming someone is sending in a 40-footer container of pharmaceutical products from abroad, it can run into billions of cedis. You can’t bank in on hope that it will arrive safely. You have to protect the goods,” she cited.

Mrs. Agyiri-Tettey argued that contrary to the opinion of some sections of the public, the company in addition to its attractive policies, has the capacity and experience to provide marine insurance covers.

She added, “there is what we call reinsurance where once a big claim comes our way, all equally liable companies that we gave insurance to, contribute to pay the claim.”

Contributing to the subject, the Head of Underwriting at Serene Insurance, Mr. Kingsley Akuoku-Boakye, said the patronage of marine policies locally has been woefully inadequate with his company selling just around 500 policies per annum.

While calling for increased patronage of its marine insurance policies, he assured of efficiency when it comes to the payment of claims at Serene Insurance. Kingsley Akuoko-Boakye revealed that both its marine hull and marine cargo categories of insurance should be patronized by actors in the shipping industry.

“Marine hull type insures the vessel against any damage to vessel of any liability assumed from your fault while marine cargo protects the goods on the vessel,” he explained.

He also urged the Ghanaian trading community to purchase these policies which are comprehensive yet, have been simplified to be understood by the ordinary businessman.

The Head of Marketing at Serene Insurance, Eugenia Agyiri-Tettey, however, attributed the low patronage of marine insurance locally to the non-enforcement of the marine insurance act.

She lauded the National Insurance Authority for its current drive to enforce the law requiring marine insurance to be purchased locally. “NIC is doing very well when it comes to reinforcement.

So, when the law is fully enacted and there is a penalty attached, I am sure most people would start purchasing insurance here.”

The Executives at Serene Insurance said not only are customers guaranteed quality services, but their rates are competitive, flexible, custom-made and can be negotiated to suit the need of clients.

They urged the Ghanaian trading public to support indigenous companies like Serene Insurance to retain money in Ghana that would grow the local insurance industry.

Expansion works on the dry bulk terminal at the Port of Takoradi is steadily progressing.

When completed the dry bulk terminal would be equipped with modernized equipment for handling increased volumes of bauxite, manganese, clinker, gypsum, limestone and other varieties of bulk cargoes significant to everyday domestic and industrial use.

Phase 1 of the Dry Bulk Terminal has its jetty of 800 quay wall with draft of -16m CD completed and considered to be the deepest bulk jetty in West Africa.

Currently, the entire jetty is being paved as well as the installation of modern conveyor systems and other utility facilities that would transform the receipt and delivery of bulk cargo at an unprecedented rate in the port.

Engineer’s Representative at the Dry Bulk Terminal for the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, Kwame Agyenim Boateng elaborated saying, “we are not going use the traditional system to onload and offload cargo like bauxite currently being done at the port after the installations are done. When such materials are ready, cargo would be loaded at the stockpile areas unto the conveyor belt systems which would pour directly via ship loaders into the hulls of the vessel.”

The 2nd phase of the dry bulk terminal costs USD 70M and Amandi Investment Limited is the contractor for the project.

The New Ultramodern Liquid Bulk Terminal at the Port of Takoradi, commissioned by the Vice President in September 2020, is expected to begin operations by May 16, 2021.

The state-of-the-art liquid bulk terminal which cost about USD 56.7M was built and would be operated and managed by Marshall Oil and Gas Services, a subsidiary of the IbisTek Group of Companies.

It consists of a -14m chart datum, 5 loading arms for the various petroleum products which are petrol, diesel, LPG, heavy fuel and bitumen.

It has a berthing capacity to handle vessels of up to 60,000 tons of petroleum cargo.

In an interaction with Eye on Port, Dr. Felix Nana Sackey, the CEO of Atlantic Terminal Services, a subsidiary of IbisTek, disclosed that staff have been recruited and are being trained ahead of the commencement of operations.

Dr. Sackey said the Liquid Bulk Terminal is fully automated and unlike any other in the subregion. He said, “this jetty is fully automated. Everything is automated, from the loading arms to the valves and the connectivity to the tank farms.”