President of the Food and Beverages Association of Ghana, Mr John Awuni, has strongly criticised the Publican AI system being implemented at the ports, describing it as flawed and unsuitable for the sector.
Speaking on Dwaso Nsem on Adom FM, he said the system is negatively impacting businesses within the food and beverages industry.
According to him, claims by the Ghana Revenue Authority that the system has generated a 46% increase in revenue could have unintended consequences, particularly rising food prices for consumers.
“The Publican AI system is hallucinating; you cannot put that thing at the port,” he added.
He argued that the cost burden imposed at the ports would ultimately be transferred to Ghanaians through higher prices of goods.
John Awuni further stated that corruption is not limited to the ports but is widespread across multiple sectors of the economy.
“Port is not the only area of corruption; it is riddled in this whole country,” he stated.
He referenced issues raised during sittings of the Public Accounts Committee, alleging instances of financial mismanagement and lack of accountability in public institutions.
He also pointed to inefficiencies in the Electricity Company of Ghana, noting reported losses in power distribution as another area where stricter systems could be applied.
He therefore called on government to expand the use of AI technology beyond the ports to other ministries and agencies if it is indeed effective in tackling revenue leakages and corruption.
“So, if AI has come and saved revenue and has even increased it, then let it not only be at the port but should be deployed to all the ministries because the only battle we are battling in this country is corruption,” he stated.
