The new Integrated Customs Management System (ICUMS) deployed at the country’s port has generated an amount of ¢490 million revenue to the state.
This is contrary to claims that the country has lost revenue due to challenges with the new system.
Commissioner-General of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Amishaddai Owusu Amoah made the revelation in a press conference in Accra.
The transition from the old single-window port clearance to the ICUMS at the ports faced some challenges due to the inability of stakeholders to transact business on the new system.
Responding to criticism that the system is causing revenue loss at the ports, Amishaddai Owusu revealed that the system had contributed to an increase in Revenue for the first two weeks of full operation.
“On average, total revenue of ¢942 million is collected monthly from the country’s entry points. With the deployment of ICUMS, the Customs Division has been able to collect from 1st to 17th June a total of ¢490 million.
Looking at this trend, it is obvious that the Authority will not be losing revenue as being highlighted by some sections of society” Amishaddai Owusu revealed.
On his part, Commissioner of Customs, Col. Kwadjo Damoah Retired, disclosed that rivalry between the old service providers and the quest to improve the port management system has justified the decision for the new system.
“It is important to emphasize that, ICUMS is a fully integrated port community, single window and e-clearance system. All Shipping Lines/ Agents Terminal Operations, Container Freight Stations, Licensed Customs House Agents, Freight Forwarders, bounded Warehouses/ Free Zones Operators and other port community players have been registered on the system. We have enrolled in excess of 6,000 port community users and all processes are fully automated,” he noted.