ICUMS lauded for unprecedented Ghs 18.1 billion revenue generation for the government
ICUMS accrues to government Ghs 18.1 billion as system turns 1 year today
Executive Secretary of the Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana, Samson Awaki Awingobit, is full of praise for the Integrated Customs Management System (ICUMS).
The commendation of the trade facilitation tool follows reports that the ICUMS had accrued to government some Ghs 18.1 billion in revenues at the end of April this year – barely a year after its full rollout at the country’s points of entry.
The revenue generated so far consist of mobilized revenues from total imports, petroleum imports, the Domestic Tax Revenue Division (DTRD) of the GRA, the ESLA Plc and Non GRA revenues.
Data indicate that total revenues generated from total imports and petroleum imports for the period under review amounted to Ghs 11.1 billion and Ghs 2.09 billion respectively.
Accumulated revenues from the DTRD of GRA, ESLA Plc and Non-GRA revenues amounted to Ghs 2.04 billion, Ghs 2.2 billion and Ghs 291 million respectively.
Total revenue accumulated by the ICUMS for government at the end of last year – 2020 – was Ghs 11.5 billion, with total revenues also accumulated from January to April this year amounted to Ghs 6.61 billion.
The Association in a press release on Tuesday, June 1, 2021, noted the revenues generated within the 11-month period was unprecedented and called for further support for the ICUMS from the various stakeholders in the trading community to exceed revenue targets in the coming years.
The Association in attesting to the improved conditions of trade processes at the ports evidenced by swift customs clearance of goods, improved cross border trading among others called for further training of stakeholders to allow for better understanding of the ICUMS system and that of future systems yet to be introduced.
“It’s also the hope of the Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana that, ICUMS will chalk more success in the coming year with the ultimate goal of making Ghana’s Ports the preferred hub for Trade in the Whole of Africa,” concluded the Association in its statement.
Key stakeholders within the port trade chain say import and export procedures through the country’s sea and land borders have seen a significant improvement in clearance time.
This feat according to them is attributed to the implementation of the much talked about Integrated Customs Management System (ICUMS).
According to them the pre-manifest declaration (PDM) procedures imbedded in the ICUMS had provided room for importers and agents to clear cargo within a day, except in situations where they had unsatisfactory issues with the cargo examination processes.
In Ghana the introduction and implementation of the system was greeted with controversy with many calling on the government to halt its execution.
Deployed on June 1, 2020, the ICUMS currently covers some 135 Customs operational points across the country including the Elubo and Aflao borders, the Tema and Takoradi ports, as well as the Kotoka International Airport (KIA).
The pre-clearance allows importers to make necessary applications to ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) for approval of permits on cargoes that require clearance.
It also grants an importer or agent access to create a Bill of Entry (BOE) and other such processes to enable Customs to undertake classification and valuation to determine the duties and taxes to be paid.
ICUMS lauded for unprecedented Ghs 18.1 billion revenue generation for the government
ICUMS accrues to government Ghs 18.1 billion as system turns 1 year today
