President Nana Akufo-Addo has singled out for praise the Integrated Customs Management Systems (ICUMS) for its efficiency and ability to shore up revenues at the ports. The system runs the popular paperless system at the Ghana ports.
Also known as the UNIPASS electronic system operated by Ghana Link, the system has generated more revenue for the economy than before its inception.
The President did not mince words in proclaiming the benefits of the system in his message on the State of the Nation in Parliament on March 30, 2022.
“ICUMS, when it was introduced, provoked a lot of controversy. At the moment, we are seeing the benefits. Indeed, customs revenue, prior to the implementation of ICUMS, for the period June 2019 to May 2020, stood at GH¢11.25 billion.”
He explained, “Between June 2020, the start of ICUMS, and May 2021, teething challenges, ill-considered propaganda and the impact of COVID-19 on global trade notwithstanding, customs revenue has increased by 27.6% to GH¢14.36 billion. Indeed, customs revenue for 2021 stood at GH¢16.08 billion, as opposed to GH¢12.03 billion in 2019 when ICUMS had not been implemented.”
About ICUMS
In June 2020, the Government of Ghana, Customs Division of the GRA, UNIPASS-Ghana and other well-meaning agencies joined up to usher Ghana’s trade to a single window system; the Integrated Customs Management System (ICUMS).
Functioning fully as an e-Customs system, it was introduced to coordinate cross-border trade activities, cut cost to stakeholders and increase government revenue mobilisation.
The change stemmed from the rising cost in port transactions, delayed clearance of goods and what the government deemed, ‘a huge leakage in revenue mobilisation.’
Another challenge stakeholders faced was the use of multiple online platforms in assessing valuation, classification, risk management and payment; which were jointly managed by the Ghana Community Network Services (GCNet) Ltd and West Blue Consulting at the time.
The innovation was launched to revive the trade sector and came as a direct successor of the former Pre-Arrival Assessment Report System (PAARS) and the Ghana Customs Management System (GCMS).
