Ghana Customs Inspection Company Ltd (GCIC) has
organised a comprehensive five-day training programme, for 30 personnel of the corporate entity, to enable them to operate the new Airport X-ray Scanner system.
The machine has the proven ability to expose concealed items such as arms and ammunitions as well as drugs and other prohibited goods.
The project, which is the brainchild of GCIC, is a joint venture
between Ghana Link, Customs Excise and Preventive Service and the Ministry of Trade and Industry.
The equipment, which is an X-ray scanner with a high penetrating ability and specifically designed for the handling of airport cargo, will
soon be installed at the Kotoka International Airport in Accra.
The scanner, which is based on the x-ray imaging technology, (THSCAN systems), adopts high-energy Electron Linear Accelerator and has performance detectors among other features.
The course content under the direction of Mr. Cheng Sen, a training engineer, comprised theoretical and practical assessments in the areas of systems operation procedure and introduction to software operation.
Nana Asamoah Boadu Managing Director of GCIC, advised the trainees to be focused and maintain high standards in their work, adding that because of the sensitive nature of the company's operations, it is essential for them to be very professional in all their endeavours.
He said the training would be on continuous basis and that staff performance would be monitored and evaluated on regular basis.
The equipment would facilitate the scanning of goods within one minute, whilst image analysis and report making can be completed within 15 minutes.
The scanner is designed to scan several pieces of assorted items at once.