The Ghana Ports and Harbors Authority (GPHA) is planning to introduce an online vessel booking and allocation system at the ports by July, 2015.
This forms part of efforts to improve efficiency and simplify business activities at the country’s ports.
The Ghana Ports and Harbors Authority currently holds berthing meetings thrice a week with shipping agents and stevedoring companies to know their shipping and berthing requirements in order to allocate berths, which has been described by shipping agents as cumbersome.
However in an interview, the Marketing and Public Relations Manager at the GPHA, Paul Asare Ansah said the new system, when operational, will facilitate the automation and modernization of Ghana’s ports.
“We want to make the system more user-friendly to enable people to publish their requirements online from the comfort of their homes where we will act upon it and provide the individual with the needed documentation requirement that is needed.”
According to Mr Ansah, with the new system, GPHA will move away from the current system of thrice weekly meetings with the shipping agents and stevedoring companies.
On sensitization of relevant stakeholders before the implementation of the online vessel booking and allocation system, Mr Asare Ansah said the authority is in the process of educating their staff and other stakeholders.
He added that they “will intensify the exercise to ensure that it is fully understood before it is rolled out.’’
– Citifmonline
