The Commissioner-General of the Ghana Revenue Authority, Anthony Kwasi Sarpong, has defended the newly introduced Publican AI system, describing it as significantly faster and more efficient than the existing import clearance platform.
Speaking in an interview with Bernard Avle on The Point of View on Monday, April 13, Mr Sarpong maintained that the AI-driven system offers a major improvement in processing time.
“It’s quicker all the time. In the past, it was heavily dependent on humans. When an importer submits all the information and says ready to go, it takes our people not less than two hours to do the research. The Publican AI reduces the two hours to five minutes,” he said.
He explained that the system enhances the government’s ability to verify import values, noting that previous methods relied on benchmark values and transaction reference price lists due to limitations in verifying invoices from different sources.
According to him, advancements in technology now allow authorities to validate claims more accurately by tracing the origin of goods, including the country or city where items were purchased.
Mr Sarpong emphasised that the adoption of the Publican AI system represents a step forward in leveraging technology to improve revenue mobilisation and ensure fairness in the import valuation process.
“The government must vet and know that indeed what you are saying, you bought it, and the price is actually what it is,” he said.
The Publican AI system, designed to streamline and modernise import clearance processes at Ghana’s ports, has sparked intense debate within the shipping and logistics sector. While authorities insist the system will improve efficiency, transparency, and reduce delays, its implementation has been met with strong resistance from key industry players, particularly freight forwarders.
A coalition of trade and freight forwarders’ associations on Monday, April 13, announced a coordinated four-day strike action at the Tema Port, warning of significant disruptions to port operations over what they describe as operational challenges associated with the introduction of the AI-driven system.
The group says the system has led to increased duties and inefficiencies, insisting that its implementation must be suspended immediately pending further review.
Addressing a press briefing to announce the industrial action, the General Secretary of the Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders, Paul Kobina Mensah, declared the start of the coordinated strike, warning that the action could escalate further if concerns are not addressed.
