Ghana Link Network Services Ltd, operators of the Integrated Customs Management Systems the ICUMS has completely debunked allegations that scanners at Kotoka International Airport Cargo Village and other entry points for cargo are broken down and Ghana is currently relying solely on sniffer dogs to intercept narcotics and contraband.
A statement signed by Head of Public Relations at Ghana Link, Norvan Acquah-Hayford said “We categorically refute this claim as entirely false, misleading, and damaging to the integrity of Ghana’s border security systems and the companies entrusted with safeguarding these critical national assets.”
Per the statement, there are currently up to five (5) fully functional and operational scanners deployed at Kotoka International Airport Cargo Village belonging to Ghana Link, comprising of four export scanners and one import scanner.
Export Scanners
The four export scanners are:
- Smiths Heimann 180180 2is PRO – Swissport
- Smiths Heimann 180180 2is – AGCPC (Air Ghana Cargo Processing Centre)
- Smiths Heimann 180180 2is PRO – Aviance
- Smiths Heimann 180180 2is – Aviance
The statement stressed that all four export scanners are operating at optimal efficiency.
Import Scanner
The sole import scanner is the Rapiscan Eagle A25 – located at KIA Cargo Section (Import). It is a high-performance scanner which continues to support the detection of inbound contraband, including narcotics, ammunition, and other prohibited items.
The statement further explained that the standard procedure for cargo handling is that all goods arriving by air cargo are moved from the tarmac directly to the scanning machines, where they undergo mandatory scanning before being released to Customs.
All goods to be exported out of the country, also arriving at the cargo village, undergo mandatory customs examination and documentation before they undergo scanning after which goods are released to the high security biometric warehouse, and later transferred to be emplaned.
The statement noted that occasionally, and at the discretion of the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC), sniffer dogs are deployed as an additional layer of scrutiny, sometimes even before goods are scanned, based on specific intelligence leads.
“In the recent case being discussed, it is our understanding that NACOC had credible intel and, therefore, deployed dogs to where suspicious items were flagged even before the goods could be brought for scanning,” it explained.
“We are therefore deeply alarmed by the inaccurate and unverified information. The assertion that all scanners are broken down is not only incorrect but also risks, because it undermines public trust in our port and border security systems, attracts unwarranted scrutiny from international aviation, trade, and security stakeholders and also damages the reputation of companies that undertake scan and have consistently invested in, supported, and enhanced the integrity of these systems at the airport,” the statement lamented.
On that score, Ghana Link is calling for the the misinformation communicated is corrected, and for media outlets that published to retract and clarify the misleading headlines and articles now circulating both locally and internationally.
