, Anthony Nukpenu, has called for calm amid rising tensions over the implementation of the Publican AI system at Ghana’s ports, urging stakeholders to prioritise dialogue over confrontation.){kind=link}
The Greater Accra Regional Organizer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Anthony Nukpenu, has called for calm amid rising tensions over the implementation of the Publican AI system at Ghana’s ports, urging stakeholders to prioritise dialogue over confrontation.
Speaking on Dwaso Nsem on Adom FM, Mr. Nukpenu cautioned against the politicisation of concerns raised by traders and freight forwarders. He maintained that while the system is not without faults, it is not fundamentally flawed and should be improved through constructive engagement.
“Let us not play the ostrich. Everything is not right at the ports,” he stated, acknowledging operational challenges including wrongful declaration of goods and undervaluation—issues he attributed largely to human interference.
Drawing parallels with the rollout of the ICUMS, Mr. Nukpenu noted that even well-designed digital systems can be circumvented over time.
“When ICUMS came, what happened? At the end of the day, people found ways around it,” he remarked, underscoring the limitations of technology in completely eliminating malpractice.
He urged stakeholders to adopt a collaborative approach in resolving concerns surrounding the Publican AI system, rather than resorting to threats or unilateral actions.
“All I will urge them is to be calm and sit with them to correct it. When you see issues, suggest productive avenues instead of making threats,” he advised.
Mr. Nukpenu further emphasised the need for due diligence in addressing allegations tied to the system’s inefficiencies.
“Some of the things are allegations, so subject all documents to strict proof so they can be looked into and corrected,” he added, stressing the importance of evidence-based assessments.
According to him, the inherent creativity of human actors often makes it difficult to fully eliminate revenue leakages, despite technological safeguards.
“When you come to human beings, we are more creative than machines,” he noted.
He also referenced ongoing stakeholder engagements led by the Ghana Revenue Authority, indicating that the Commissioner-General has been actively engaging industry players to clarify the system’s objectives and address emerging concerns.
The remarks come against the backdrop of escalating tensions between government authorities and the Ghana Union of Traders’ Associations over the rollout of the Publican AI system.
GUTA President, Clement Boateng, has announced a series of protest measures in response to what the association describes as increased duties and operational inefficiencies linked to the system.
However, following a meeting with the Ghana Shippers Authority led by Chief Executive Officer Ransford Gyampo, the association agreed to suspend some of its planned actions. Key directives—including a halt in certain payments and the suspension of clearing operations—remain in place pending further discussions with the Transport Minister.