ACPN establishes high-level advisory body to improve customs management in Africa
The African Customs Council of Elders (ACCE) has convened under the auspices of the African Customs Policy Network (AfCPN), a regional platform that seeks to promote the efficient and effective management of customs and related institutions on the African continent.
Chaired by Board Chairperson Creck Buyonge Mirito, the meeting was attended by a host of distinguished participants, including former Commissioners of Customs, Directors, and Directors-General of Customs from various African Union (AU) member states.
As a high-level non-executive advisory body, the ACCE aims to facilitate the achievement of the vision of a strong, efficient, and effective management of customs and related institutions in Africa, in line with the AU’s Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want. Drawing on the collective wisdom and expertise of its members, the council seeks to promote the implementation of best practices in corporate governance, with a view to enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of customs administrations and related institutions across the continent.
Membership in the council is open to former executive members of customs administrations, as well as other relevant officials who have worked at similar levels outside of customs, such as Commissioners-General of Revenue Authorities, or heads of relevant departments in government ministries responsible for customs.
The council also welcomes the participation of senior leaders and management of relevant private sector representative organizations and companies, representatives of the AU and the Regional Economic Communities, the AfCFTA Secretariat, donors, the WCO, and relevant international organizations, academia, or other experts as appropriate in observer capacity.
In her welcoming remarks, Mme Makali Lepholisa, the Finance Director of AfCPN, expressed gratitude to the participants for their commitment to the cause of African integration and their willingness to contribute to the work of the council.
Highlighting the diverse backgrounds and expertise of the participants, Ms. Lepholisa underscored the importance of tapping into the collective wisdom and expertise of the council’s members, in order to achieve the council’s objectives.
For his part, Mr. Mirito provided a background to the meeting, highlighting the pre-incorporation and post-registration history of AfCPN, including its governance structures and operating philosophy. Drawing on the examples of “The Elders” brought together by the late South African President Nelson Mandela and the “Panel of the Wise,” Mr. Mirito underscored the importance of inspiration rather than replication in structuring the ACCE. As a non-exclusive, inclusive body, the council seeks to welcome the participation of individuals who may not necessarily be considered “elders” in the conventional sense but who possess the necessary expertise and experience to contribute to the council’s work.
The ACCE represents an important platform for promoting the efficient and effective management of customs and related institutions in Africa. By bringing together former executive members of customs administrations, as well as other relevant officials, private sector representatives, and experts, the council seeks to tap into the collective wisdom and expertise of its members in order to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of customs administrations and related institutions across the continent.
As the African continent continues to integrate and develop, the work of the ACCE will undoubtedly play an important role in ensuring the success of this process.
