Ghana to introduce paperless clearance system at entry points
The Customs DiVision of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and its partner, the Ghana Community Network Services (GCNet), are to deploy a paperless customs clearing platform at the country’s entry points. to facilitate trade.
The system, being designed by GCNet, will be an enhanced process over the current platform where importers have to print out and make copies of all clearing documents, such as bills of lading and import declaration forms (IDFs), after inputing them into the GCNet system.
The Commissioner of the Customs Division, Major-General Carl Modey, who made this known at a .seminar in Accra yesterday, said the system was expected to go live before the end of the year .but the exact date was still under discussion.
“This current system is an effort to streamline the clearing process at the ports, eliminate unnecessary human interface, prevent fraud and make the system faster to the satisfaction of all parties,” he said.
The one-day seminar was organised by GCNet for the top management of Customs on the status of the “paperless system”.
The seminar was also to explain some of the key features of the system, aimed at ensuring that the clearing of consignments at the country’s entry points was done within a single working day.
“With this new system, except for physical examination, every paper will be submitted electronically and it is expected that this will speed up the clearing process at the ports,” the Customs Commissioner said.
GCNet has designed the Ghana TradeNet, a web-based platform which interfaces with the Ghana Customs Management System that allows importers and agents to submit clearing documents and obtain permits from regulatory authorities electronically to facilitate trade and enhance revenue mobilisation by the government.
Since its introduction in 2004, the GCNet system has enabled the GRA to increase its revenue collection on behalf of the government exponentially and such enhanced efforts as the paperless system are expected to further improve its performance.
The External Relations Co-ordinator of GCNet, Mrs Ama Amoah, told the Daily Graphic that the system would address certain concerns expressed by some stakeholders over the use of paper which tended to be costly.
Source: Daily Graphic
Let the people overseas shipping to pay clearance overseas in the name of Ghana government at any Bank and get receipt for clearance. Or go to GNet website to type in payment number tha was issued overseas to clear.
This is long overdue and this is the only way to keep slave mentality of Ghanaian crimibals hands out of the systems from stealing from Ghanaian youth who are leaders for tomorrow