By: Mohamed M. Sesay
During the stakeholder’s engagement at the Atlantic Hotel geared towards addressing the multiple challenges in the Clearing and forwarding sector, Chief Minister Jacob Jusu Saffa assured participants that the New Direction Government is in its vim and vigour to address all the perennial legal and policy impediments engulfed in the Clearing and Forwarding Sector.
In his statement, Jacob Jusu Saffa pinned that the clearing and forwarding process continues to be a perennial problem in Sierra Leone and it is one of the most important policy issues to the government. In the recent cabinet meeting, he said the issue of Clearing and Forwarding came up and he was directed to lead a process aimed at addressing such challenges in the Clearing and Forwarding Sector.
“If we in this room cannot solve that problem, then nobody else is going to solve that problem. So what we are doing today is reviewing the entire process of Clearing and Forwarding. This is just part of that process”, said Chief Minister.
Chief Minister intimated to participants that different efforts had been made by government officials to address the wrongs within the Clearing and Forwarding Sector. He added that they had an initial meeting with a cross section of stakeholders which they made a lot of inputs into the challenges. He disclosed that they instantaneously started to do a comprehensive task of preference which has to do with the review process which precipitated this just concluded stakeholders meeting.
Chief Minister also crystallized that the anticipated outcome of that stakeholder’s meeting was to inform stakeholders on the review aspect and also assured them that such a process is ongoing within the government.
“This is a very important exercise especially led by the Chief Minister himself and attended by the Minister of Finance, Minister of Trade and the Minister of Transport and Aviation. This means you should take it very seriously. We are going to solve this problem whether we have to do some legislative changes or policy changes we are going to do it”, he reaffirmed.
Chief Minister also alluded that there is a big infighting between National Revenue Authority (NRA), and Port Authority regarding who does what. He said NRA believes that Port is overstepping its limit, and Port Authority is also thinking that NRA is condoning the falsification of documents at some points. He, therefore, noted that there is no clarity regarding their roles which the review process would help address.
Jacob Jusu Saffa reiterated that the just concluded stakeholders’ engagement is just part of the many processes aimed at addressing the perennial challenges in the Clearing and Forwarding Sector. He itemized that they are going to review existing laws, policies and the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) such as; incorrect declaration of Clearance Document, falsification of clearance document, absence of a clear service delivery charter by the respective agencies, destination inspection by customs, improper examination procedures by customs (time process), duplication of roles and overcrowded examination processes, unnecessary delays in the release of the delivery order by shipping lines among others.
Chief Minister also acknowledged that there are legal impediments and legislative limitations that they are going to review. He assured that they are not going to hire consultants for the job but rather, utilise government functionaries who understand processes to do the job. He concluded by reassuring the gathering that once all the work is done, he would now present the document to the cabinet for approval.
On his part, Finance Minister Denis Vandi reaffirmed that some Shipping lines also operate Clearing and Forwarding Businesses and Custom Officers in the clearing. He, therefore, requested for such narratives in the Clearing and Forwarding sector to be changed. He said one cannot be a referee and at the same time a player. He disclosed that he has been following the process through and therefore, encouraged the participants to look into the conflict of interest within the Clearing and Forwarding Agencies.
Finance Minister also assured that government underscores the importance of clearing and forwarding agencies. He also encouraged the Clearing and Forwarding Agencies to look at the laws governing Clearing Agencies, coupled with the importance of Clearing Agencies. He said there are a lot of problems regarding the release of the document by shipping lines and he called for an instantaneous redress. He also disclosed that people get manifest very late which should ideally be in the country or with the shipping lines at least a week before time.
On his part, the Minister of Trade and Industry Hinga Sandi, also admonished that the stakeholder’s engagement indicates a lot of issues regarding handling goods at the Port. He said trading and crossing borders are some of the key indicating challenges as far as the country is concerned. He reminded all and sundry that the Consumer Protection Law is in force and advised all Clearing and Forwarding Agencies to work in tandem with it. As part of the reforms, he said moving forward they would be critically assessing time and processes of clearing goods at the Port. In his view, Hinga Sandi has a credo that clearing goods at the Port should be an essential service and the service providers should be open to clients 24-7.
