Accra, July 14, GNA – Ghana Link Network Services Ltd, operators of the Integrated Customs Management Systems (ICUMS), says all scanners at Kotoka International Airport Cargo Village are fully functional.
It has, therefore, rejected claims that scanners at the Kotoka International Airport Cargo Village were not working, resulting in the exclusive reliance on sniffer dogs for detecting narcotics and contraband.
The company described the reports as âentirely false, misleading, and damaging.”
“We are deeply alarmed by the inaccurate and unverified information. The assertion that âall scanners are broken downâ is not only incorrect but also risks undermining public trust in our port and border security systems,” a statement issued by Norvan Acquah-Hayford, Head of Public Relations at Ghana Link Network Services Ltd, said.
It said the claims also had the tendency of attracting unwarranted scrutiny from international aviation, trade, and security stakeholders and damaging the reputation of companies that undertake Scan and have consistently invested in, supported, and enhanced the integrity of these systems at the Airport.
According to the statement, there are currently five fully operational scanners at the KIA Cargo Villageâfour dedicated to exports and one for imports.
The export scanners, all manufactured by Smiths Heimann of France, are deployed across the facilities operated by Swissport, Air Ghana Cargo Processing Centre (AGCPC), and Aviance.
These machines, the statement noted, âare operating at optimal efficiency.â
The import scanner, a Rapiscan Eagle A25âmanufactured in the United States by Rapiscan and AS&Eâremains one of only three such high-performance scanners in Africa.
It is stationed at the import section of KIAâs cargo operations and is actively used in screening inbound cargo for narcotics, arms, ammunition, and other illegal goods.
The statement explained that the standard cargo processing procedure at KIA involved mandatory scanning of all goodsâboth inbound and outboundâbefore release to Customs or airline handlers.
Exported goods, for instance, are scanned after undergoing customs documentation and examination, then moved to secure biometric warehouses before boarding.
Occasionally, sniffer dogs from the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) are deployed, but only as an additional layer of security and always based on intelligence-led operations.
âIn 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,â the statement said.
âThe assertion that âall scanners are broken downâ is not only incorrect but also risks undermining public trust in our port and border security systems,â the statement added.
It said if scanners at KIA were truly out of service, there would have been significant operational disruptions, including shipping delays, demurrage costs, and complaints from freight forwarders, customs agents, and airlines.
It said there were no such disturbances, reinforcing the companyâs position that the scanning infrastructure remains fully operational.
The company emphasized the need for accurate reporting, particularly on matters affecting national security and trade.
âWe strongly urge that the misinformation communicated is corrected, and that immediate steps be taken to reflect the true state of affairs,â the statement urged.
It added that scanning infrastructure at KIA and other border points forms Ghanaâs first line of defence against the trafficking of prohibited goods and must be reported on with care, accuracy, and a sense of national responsibility.
Ghana Link reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to partnering with the State and its security agencies to strengthen border integrity and ensure compliance with international trade and safety standards.
âBut this commitment,â the statement concluded, âmust be reciprocated with truth, accountability, and collaborationânot public misrepresentation.â
The company pledged to remain transparent in its operations and responsive to legitimate concerns while protecting the integrity of systems designed to keep Ghana secure.
GNA
Edited by Christian Akorlie
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