ACCRA: Ghana Ports & Harbours Authority (GPHA) has announced that no layoffs are required for implementing paperless customs at national ports, according to Citi Business News. Stakeholders had reportedly been concerned about labour impacts of the new system. However, there will be personnel realignment regarding auditing in the customs clearing process. There will not be any job losses, in fact new hires are possible to reduce current staff stress and death levels, Ghana Customs confirmed.
GPHA Genreal Manager of Marketing and Corporate Affairs, Esther Gyebi-Donkor said: “The staff’s operations will be integrated at the back office and they will be operating from there. “As a result, they will not be engaging in human interface while others will be deployed. “None of our staff is going to be affected in terms of employment. Even though we are going to reduce the human interface, no jobs will be lost.” Port agencies are moving to rapidly implement the paperless system in order to cut turnaround times for importers, as required by the state, before the September 1, 2017 deadline.