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Kojo Annan's Area of Work for Cotecna
From Conteca's website

From a Cotecna statement about Kojo Annan: His activities concerned exclusively Cotecna's separate activities in Nigeria and Ghana, and he was not involved in any of Cotecna's operations involving the United Nations or Iraq.

From Cotecna's Fact Sheet about its business in Ghana:

Following an international tender Gateway Services Limited (GSL), a joint venture company in which Cotecna holds a 70% share, was awarded a 10 year contract with the Government of the Republic of Ghana. Under the terms of the contract, beginning 01 April 2000, GSL is mandated to carry out price verification, customs classification and the calculations of import duties and taxes based on the value of imports as assessed by COTECNA's specialists. GSL is responsible for the issuance of final documentation in the form of a Final Classification and Valuation Report (FCVR) for ALL SEA IMPORTS. The contract further calls for the scanning of containers at the Port of Tema utilising X-ray scanning technology.

Of paramount importance under this contract is the technical assistance given to the Customs Excise and Preventive Services (CEPS) by assisting them to establish a Transaction Price Database (TPD) of imported goods and the transfer of know-how through various training programmes, including:

Valuation under WTO/GATT
Risk Management
X-ray Scanning, including Image Analysis
Identification of undervalued consignments;
Reconciliation of duties and taxes assessed by GSL against duties and taxes collected by Customs;
transfer of know-how and technology.

ACHIEVEMENTS
Since 01 April 2000, GSL has:
Fully implemented a Destination Inspection Scheme
Successfully implemented WTO/GATT Valuation regime
Introduced first a Mobile X-ray and Fixed X-ray scanning of containers at the Port of Tema.
Introduced a Risk Management Approach to assist in facilitating legitimate trade while focusing on high risk imports
TRAINING

COTECNA has trained GSL employees in:
Valuation methods under ACV
Risk Management and Analysis
X-Ray Scanning
Image Analysis
Data processing and entry
Communications
Database management

The innovative approach used by COTECNA in establishing a joint venture with GSL, with partners that includes COTECNA, CEPS, Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) and the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MOTI), represents a "first" in the world of inspection and verification industry. The success of the venture to date has provided a model for other countries seeking to move from PSI to a new regime that ensures security, revenue and development of technical and professional capacity.

Cotecna's Datasheet about its business in Nigeria
Posted by: Mike Sylwester 2004-10-26
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=47040