Paperless is the way to go

Technology is rapidly changing how business is transacted globally. From small businesses to large multinational companies, the use of Information Technology  (IT) has transformed operations resulting in enhanced efficiency and reduced cost.

This means that digitisation has come to stay and people must brace themselves for the new drive. From business transactions to making payments, the use of IT has dominated globally, and the shift from paper to paperless operations is making inroads.

Ghana has not been left out of the digital drive as it strives to go cashless with money transactions.

Quite new is the 100 per cent Paperless Policy that the government has decided to implement at the country’s various ports.

The GRAPHIC BUSINESS welcomes the decision which is expected to kick-start officially on September 1, 2017 to bring a high level of efficiency in port operations which is currently fraught with long paperwork and processes.  

For a long time, stakeholders who are engaged in port documentation continue to use paper in the declaration and clearance of goods at entry points of the country instead of generating the needed information electronically, thereby hindering smooth operations at the ports, with long-waiting periods.

The paper work system also makes room for revevnue leakages and corruption.

The Graphic Business finds it quite unfortunate that a pilot project, which started on August 18, was met with a demonstration by some clearing agents at the port in Tema.

The idea behind the venture was to help address the challenges that would be encountered when the full implementation took off and to find innovative ways to deal with them.

According to the protesters, which included members of the Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders (GIFF), the Chamber of Freight and Trade and Concerned Freight

Forwarders Association, the implementation  should be done in a well-coordinated manner when adequate sensitisation had been done.  

Subsequently, they are demanding that the government withdraws the implementation plan, ensure that sensitisation is done for users of the policy to keep them abreast of the system before rolling it out.

While the GRAPHIC BUSINESS supports the decision for port operations to go paperless, it is also urging the government to ensure that the implementation of the policy is done in a coordinated manner with users  well-informed about how it will positively affect their operations.

Not only will paperless operations reduce cost of doing business and provide some ease for doing business, it will also help block revenue leakage associated with the usual pen and paper work.

It is indeed time for port operations to go paperless.—GB