Businessman and politician Akwesi Addai Odike is calling on government to immediately suspend the rollout of the Publican AI system at Ghana’s ports, insisting that wider consultation with trader groups is necessary to prevent confusion and protect the country’s trade ecosystem.
Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem programme, Odike argued that the current approach by the Finance Ministry risks deepening mistrust among business operators, especially when key concerns remain unresolved.
“The government cannot collect non-existent money,” he stressed, warning that unclear systems and weak communication could open room for abuse and distort revenue expectations.
He questioned why authorities would “wake up and impose decisions” without first engaging the Ghana Union of Traders’ Associations and other key stakeholders who operate daily at the ports and in transit trade corridors.
According to him, many traders still do not understand the workings of the new system, describing parts of it as “obscure,” a situation he believes is fuelling suspicion and encouraging informal practices.
Odike also drew attention to regional trade dynamics, noting that Ghana risks losing competitiveness if reforms are not carefully handled.
He pointed to Togo’s free port system as an example, explaining that container owners there can sell directly at the port, with buyers later paying duties where necessary.
He further argued that uneven policy environments are disadvantaging local businesses, saying foreign operators often benefit from more flexible conditions, including access to bonded warehouses that many Ghanaian traders still do not have.
“The successive governments have not been fair to the business community,” he added, urging authorities to reconsider the implementation strategy and prioritise dialogue.
Odike maintains that without such engagement, the reforms risk not only resistance but also unintended disruptions to trade flows and national revenue mobilisation.
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