The Import and Export Control Department of the Food And Drugs Authority says it will from Monday 3rd May 2021 receive all payments through an electronic digital platform.
The digitization of the payment process is aimed at reducing the turnaround time of doing business at the various ports of entry.
All payments under this new initiative will be made through a new platform-Ghana.gov which is linked to the Integrated Customs Management System (ICUMS) already in place.
This new platform will offer a variety of payment options such as mobile money, bank transfers, and debit card transfers and offer enough flexibility to importers and exporters making the payment process seamless and less cumbersome.
Although this new initiative is to take effect from Monday 3rd May 2021, the project has already been piloted at the Tema port to test the system's readiness.
The FDA has already seen a reduced number of visits to its facility for payment purposes which is indicative of how this initiative can reduce congestion at the various offices across the country.
A stakeholder engagement is scheduled to take place on Wednesday 28th April 2021 to further brief relevant stakeholders on this new development.
Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith