The sub-regional institution awarded the said mention to the port structure, as part of an investigation into the Observatory of Abnormal Practices (OPA) on the main corridors of Central Africa, the results of which were presented on July 17, 2024.
Among the factors that led to the award of this mention, the survey by the Sub-Regional Institute of Applied Statistics and Economics (ISSEA) highlights the digitalization of procedures. Indeed, since the implementation of this mechanism, there has been a drastic reduction in customs clearance times, which have gone from 15 days in the past to 8 days. In addition to this aspect, the digitalization of procedures has made it possible to eliminate the inexplicable existence of numerous checkpoints, unjustified expenses, not to mention the phenomenon of theft of goods which has freed up the floor.
Although commendable progress should be made in some segments, the ISSEA study also focused on the issue of the fluidity of procedures. By investigating the daily activities carried out by the Authorized Customs Commissioners and the transporters in the management of goods in transit. The results show that, for the safe transport of goods, the transporters use corridors.
From Douala to Bangui via N’djamena or Libreville, the corridor is a road designed to ensure the fluidity of transport. According to the plan described by the investigation of the sub-regional institute, “… Once in the port area of Douala, and after receiving their cargo, transporters must cross different checkpoints before being authorized to travel along the corridors. Trucks must pass, among other things, through the weighbridge, loading at the container terminal control, installation of the GPS beacon, weighing. Validation of the manifest (slip) can take an average of 4 or 5 days.”
As a reminder, this investigation by the Sub-regional Institute of Applied Statistics and Economics (ISSEA) is linked to the Observatory of Abnormal Practices (OPA) on the main corridors of Central Africa. An observatory that has been working since 2021 on the Douala-Ndjamena, Douala-Bangui, Douala-Yaoundé corridors and is itself part of the National and Regional Infrastructure Governance Support Program (PAGIRN). Which was set up by CEMAC and financed mainly by the European Union under the 11th EDF.
