Roadmap to paperless transactions on Sept 1

Graphic Business Business News Aug - 29 - 2017 , 07:08

The government has come out with the official paperless port roadmap, which explains in fine detail the entire import process flow.

The paperless process flow takes off on September 1 and is expected to remove customs barriers within the country and ensure a paperless port as announced by Vice-President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia.

The official roadmap document was issued under the auspices of the presidency in collaboration with the Ministries of Transport, Finance, Trade and Industry, the Ghana Revenue Authority, the Ghana Ports and Harbour Authority, government regulatory agencies and service providers.

Already, stakeholders have been trained on the process flow by technical partners for clear understanding and effective take off on the planned date.

The participants took part in practical information sessions and discussions and tried their hands on the identified systems.

Below is the paperless roadmap on import process flow

1. Traders register business and/or products with regulatory agencies online in compliance with existing rules and regulations.
2. Trader obtains UCR online.

3. Trader fills and submits Import Declaration Form (IDF) online.

IDF fees is paid electronically via Ghana’s Trading Hub Portal using Mobile Money, Card (Visa, Gh-Link), online Banking or In-branch

4. Trader obtains required import licenses, permits and certificates for pre-arrival of goods.

Tariff manager determines controlling agencies based on mapped and agreed HS codes.

Fees and charges may be paid using existing modes of payment or electronically via Ghana’s Trading Hub Portal using Mobile Money, Card (Visa, Gh-Link), online banking or In-branch

5. Airlines and shipping lines or their authorised third-party representatives submit manifest electronically for pre-arrival of goods in accordance with existing rules and regulations.

Manifest is shared real time with the GPHA and all necessary systems/agencies. Amendment process is carried out online. Manifest is reconciled with the CCVR declaration for anomalies. Penalties may be paid using existing modes of payment or electronically via Ghana’s trading hub portal using mobile money, card (Visa, Gh-Link), online banking or In-branch.

6. Trader applies for CCVR online with electronic signature. Licenses, permits and certificates of regulatory agencies is mandatory for CCVR.

7. Risk Clearance System determines selectivity of transactions. Compliant transaction (green) are granted automatic customs release without scanning or physical examination. Non-compliant transactions are subjected to scanning and joint inspection if anomalies are found.

8. Customs Classification and Valuation Report (CCVR) is issued electronically and transmitted seamlessly to all relevant agencies/systems.

9. Trader submits bill of entry online, after transmission of CCVR. Where goods are declared for bonded warehouse, the application will be made online via bonded warehouse module, complimented by an inventory and bond management system.

Duties and fees may be paid using existing modes of payment or electronically via Ghana’s trading hub portal using mobile money, card (Visa, Gh-Link), online banking or In-branch.

10. GRA customs releases consignment online.

11. Importer/agent submits a request electronically to the shipping lines for delivery of the consignment with the original electronic bill of lading. Importer presents the bill of lading to the shipping line to confirm title to goods (legally required to be paper).

12. Shipping line issues an invoice to the customer for payment (Invoices cover freight, container deposit, demurrage and administrative charges as necessary).
13. Agent pays invoices value.

Fees and charges may be paid using existing modes of payment or electronically via Ghana’s trading hub portal using mobile money, card (Visa, Gh-Link), online banking or In-branch

14. After payment to shipping line account, the shipping lines issues the delivery order to the terminal and the consignees.

15. Importer makes a request to GPHA/Terminal/ICD to take delivery of the consignment.

16. GPHA/Terminal/ICD assesses shipping line releases status and ability to provide service by required date. GPHA/Terminal/ ICD.

17. Importer/agent will make payment online or in branch. Receiving banking will send the electronic payment receipt to GPHA/Terminal/ICD.

18. GPHA/Terminal/ICD receives the payment. For compliant transactions, the container is positioned for delivery and an SMS/email is sent to the importer/agent for pick up.

Otherwise
a. Goods of non-compliant transactions are scanned. If no anomalies found, the goods are released. Otherwise, the goods are subjected to joint inspection.

b. Consignment is jointly inspected by all required agencies based on mapped HS codes, aided by mobile devices for field officers.

c. If testing is required, testing will be conducted by a nominated testing agency based on agency agreed SLAs on behalf of all, with results shared electronically.

d. If anomalies are found, compliance directives are issued.

E. Consignment is seized whenever compliance directives are not adhered to.

19. GPHA/Terminal/ICD issues a delivery allow and an electronic notification is sent to import/agent

20. GPHA/Terminal/ICD generates e-waybill, sends copy to accompany cargo and gated out at exist gate.

NOTES - Movement of cargo to ICD:

. Shipping lines prepares and submits ICL to GPHA for approval.

. Shipping lines creates cargo CMR on GICCs platform.

. Customs validate CMR after acceptance by ICD. In case supplementary, ICL is required to be treated, the same process of submission and approval is followed as in the main.

. Import containers are loaded on ICD trucks from MPS/Terminal I en-route to ICD through Western gate.

. Customs and GPHA Security at Western gate confirms the status of containers being transferred on GICCs and validate same with trucks and driver ID.

. ICD receives containers into stack and upload status on GCNet platform.

Car terminal:

. Ramp tallies and barcodes are generated from the quay with handheld devices.

. VCR generated electronically.

. e-TT generated electronically.

. Vehicles are scanned via barcode into SCTL terminal.

. Electronic manifest is downloaded from GICCs into SCTL system for clearance of vehicles. — GB