The newly Integrated Customs Management System (ICUMS) is said to have raked in over GHS4.6 billion in revenues at the country’s various entry points as at the end of August 2020.
This comes after the system, also known as UNIPASS, successfully processed more than 193,000 Bills of Entry (BOEs) from Custom house agents and freight forwarders during the same period.
Speaking at a press briefing in Accra, Assistant Commissioner of Customs and the head of the ICUMS project, Emmanuel Ohene, said the success came after issues that plagued the system during its initial stages were resolved.
“From January to August, year to date for Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority, we have brought in a revenue of GHS 6.9 billion and with the introduction of the newly Integrated Customs Management System, ICUMS, from March to August, the revenue accrued by the GRA is GHS4.6 billion,” he said.
He also stated that, ICUMS, which has been operational in the country since March 2020, has recorded some 193,000 Bills of Entry (BOEs) on the new clearance platform.
“Per operational statistics, more than 193,000 Bill of entries (BOEs) have been processed from March to August 2020 with pre-Manifest Declaration (PMD) constituting 86.71%. 46.02% of the bill of entry were exited. Tema Collection processed 47.07%, Kotoka International Airport Collection processed 16.07%, Aflao collection point recorded 9.67% whiles the Bolga collection point had 9.15%%,” he said.
The UNIPASS/ICUMS system
ICUMS also known as UNIPASS is a single-window project introduced by government this year to facilitate trade activities at the Tema port.
The project was undertaken to strengthen the customs division of the Ghana Revenue Authority and eventually enhance revenue mobilisation at the ports.
The single window project, which is aimed at coordinating all activities at the ports on one platform, was earlier managed by West Blue Consulting and GCNet.
ICUMS was first deployed from March 2020 at selected Customs land frontiers, Takoradi Port from April 1 2020.
Kotoka International Airport, KIA, went live on ICUMS from April 20, 2020, downstream petroleum operations from May 2020 and finally the Tema Port and Accra Collection from June 1, 2020.
Challenges with UNIPASS
Since its inception, the ICUMS has faced many challenges. As a result, freight forwarders have called for the suspension of its implementation.
The freight forwarders accused the GRA of hastily implementing the new platform without addressing concerns raised by importers when the system was piloted.