Mr Takyi Addo, Public Relations Officer for the Abossey Okai Spare Parts Dealers Association, has mounted a firm defence of the new AI-powered valuation system currently in operation at Ghana’s ports.
He maintained that critics of the technology are being disingenuous, emphasising that the system is proving highly effective in assisting both the government and the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) in securing accurate revenue from importers.
According to Mr Addo, the AI has rapidly curbed financial leakages and theft, ensuring the state receives its rightful due.
To support this, he cited GRA reports indicating that port revenue stood at 2.4 billion Ghana cedis in the fortnight prior to the system’s implementation; following its introduction, this figure rose to 3.6 billion Ghana cedis.
This suggests an additional 1.2 billion Ghana cedis was collected that would otherwise have been lost to the state.
These remarks come in response to fierce opposition from spare parts dealers in Kumasi.
Led by the Ashanti Regional leadership of the Ghana Spare Parts Dealers Association, the group recently held a press conference marked by chants and visible frustration, where they rejected the system as a threat to their livelihoods and demanded its immediate abolition.
Suame Magazine Chairman, Adu Godfred, voiced profound concerns during the event, stating that the policy is gradually causing their business operations to collapse.
Addressing these tensions on Rainbow Radio’s Nyankonton Mu Nsem, Mr Addo acknowledged a primary grievance: the system has led to an increase in duties, a matter that dealers are eager to see addressed.
However, he clarified that the Abossey Okai dealers are not seeking the total abolition of the technology, but rather government intervention regarding the pricing structures.
He noted that representatives have already met with the Deputy Minister of Finance and the GRA Commissioner, resulting in the formation of a committee tasked with tackling these specific challenges. This process is currently underway to refine and improve the system’s application.
Mr Addo stressed that those opposing the technology are often individuals resistant to change or those who wish to avoid addressing the long-standing issues of undervaluation and systemic corruption. He urged the Kumasi dealers to exercise patience, offering assurances that their concerns will soon be resolved.
He added that discarding the entire system is not the appropriate way forward, stating:”The Publican AI is not a bad system as some have claimed. In fact, it has detected the corruption and flagged all forms of manipulation. Those who claim the AI system is not good lack understanding of how it operates. The system was introduced to deal with the leakages in the system.
However, there are some concerns around it, and we have established an eight-member committee to handle the issues raised. We are working in collaboration with the government, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Trade and Industry, and the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) in dealing with the issues.”
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana