By Bampia James Bundu
Chairman Association of Clearing and Forwarding Agency (ACFA) hassaid that government needs to install a new scanning machine at the Queen Elizabeth Quay II if operations must continue smoothly.
Abdul Akim Bangura said the scanning machine they had had been in operation for about 10 years and that there was urgent need for another. He said the scanner had developed a lot of problems and “it breaks down on a regular basis which causes delaysfor our clients clearing their containers.”
He disclosed that about two years ago the Chinese government provided two new scanning machines to the government of Sierra Leone through the National Revenue Authority, NRA, but they had not been installed.
“The machines are packed at their warehouse gathering dust while people continue to go through challenges in clearing containers,” Bangura claimed, and called on NRA to intervene quickly to avoid further hindrance to businesses at the quay.
“We are not being paid by government.We make money due to the amount of containers we clear every day. The more containers we clear the more money we make,” Bangura said.
Corporate affairs manager at NRA, Mohamed Bangura, said they were not in charge of the scanning system at the quay, but that NRA was only among other institutions involved in ensuring that containers were cleared from the port.
He confirmed that they had received two scanning machines from the Chinese government in 2011, but that they were for the implementation of the ASYCUDA system and to be installed at the Gbalamuya custom check point in Kambia.
“We have finished rolling out the ASYCUDA system in Gbalamuya and plans are underway to install the scanning machines also,” he said.
Bangura stated that they had not received requests from institutions with regards the scanning machines.
“If we received such a request and it’s viable, it will be submitted to the board for its advice”, he said.
(C) Politico 21/10/14
