The Kotoka International Airport (KIA) collection of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority will commence the implementation of an e-Manifest system beginning June 21, 2017.

The e-Manifest system which is being deployed by technical partners of the Customs Division of the GRA, WestBlue Consulting will allow customs officials to access advance information on all cargo arriving in the country by air in real time.

This is a departure from the current practice in which customs officials have to shuttle from one airline operator to the other in search of such information.

Theresa Kyei Asare the KIA sector commander of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority made the announcement of the commencement of the system at an IATA Advance Cargo Information workshop in Accra on Tuesday.

"The e-Manifest system will simplify the process and make the clearing system faster. For example, if you are supposed to deliver the goods within 48 hours, with the electronic manifest we will be able to deliver within 24 hours or even at a shorter time’’ she noted.

The sector commander pointed out that the e-Manifest will allow a seamless dissemination of information on all cargo due in the country by air to all relevant stakeholders in real time. She explained that the Manifest is the first and foremost document that customs officials require in order to process cargo clearance.

"This is very welcome because it will make our work very simple and curtail the stress of moving from one airline operator to the other for the manifest manually to commence clearing processes.

Sometimes even when you go there they are not able to find it for you and even if they do, it delays.

But with the e-manifest we are talking about 5 minutes at most and you have all the information you need to speed up the process. This is a win-win for us because it brings respite to us and the importers or shippers as well’’ she added.

Manager in charge of training at WestBlue Consulting, Ransford Mensah on his part noted that the system was aimed at deploying technology in the entire gamut of operations at the airport including boarding through to landing as well as the manifest section itself to ensure effective trade facilitation through automation with the concomitant benefit of reducing the cost and time of doing business in the country.

According to him, the system allows authorised officials to log in and transact business without let or hindrance, adding that the system has been programmed to operate from end to end.

On concerns by some stakeholders at the workshop for room to made for additional manifest, which is cargo that has arrived in the country but has not been captured in the manifest, Mr. Mensah opined that the company was going to consider all the concerns raised by the stakeholders and address same to make the system a more stress-free one.

According to him, the company works with and in the interest of the stakeholders and is therefore open to suggestions and questions aimed at improving the system.

International Air Transport Association (IATA) Regional Manager for Africa in charge of Airport, cargo, passenger and security, Getnet Tilahun Taye who walked participants through an overview of IATA on Advance Cargo Information (ACI), underscored the importance of free, fluid and timely flow of information in the clearance chain.

He was particularly happy that Ghana through WestBlue was commencing the e-Manifest system at the KIA.

According to him, some of the benefits of implementing the Advance Cargo Information include the fact that customs are able to match resources to risk, low-risk consignments are less likely to be inspected, more trade predictability and increase of clearance time significantly from days to hours among others.

The workshop was aimed at enhancing the skills of air cargo professionals and to give participants an appreciation of Ghana’s air cargo component sectors, encourage discussions and get them to share ideas and perspectives.