National Single Window system effective September 1
West Blue Ghana Limited and GCNet Services are to implement the National Single Window system, effective September 1, 2015.
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The two institutions will partner other scanning companies to ensure a seamless, efficient and user-friendly e-clearance regime.
The Commissioner-General of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Mr George Blankson, announced this at a media briefing on the National Single Window for traders in Accra yesterday.
As part of efforts by the Customs Division of the GRA to provide pre-arrival clearance services from September 1, 2015, he said a modernised environment had been developed to provide Pre-Arrival Assessment Reporting System (PAARS) to enhance revenue mobilisation, improve border security and Customs clearance, overcome duplication across regulatory agencies and promote trade facilitation.
“This will be a one-stop shop to ensure minimal bureaucracy, enhance data transparency and increase trade revenue,” he added.
Reason for take-over
Mr Blankson said the move followed the decision of the government not to renew the contract of destination inspection companies (DICs) when it expired in September this year.
He said that was to help achieve the government’s vision of implementing a National Single Window.
The single window is a single entry point for traders to submit information to the government to fulfil import or export-related regulatory requirements.
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National Single Window
The acting Commissioner of the Customs Division, Mr Kuudamnuru John Vianney, said the issuance of all final classification and valuation reports (FCVR) would cease at the close of work on August 31, 2015 but active and unutilised FCVRs would continue to be valid for 30 days ending October 2, 2015.
He said in effect, all outstanding FCVRs as of October 2, 2015 would become void and would not be accepted for processing, while the Customs classification and valuation report (CCVR) would replace the FCVR after August 31.
Mr Tony Bedzra, the Head of Tax Policy at the Ministry of Finance, who chaired the briefing, asked for dedicated Customs officials to make the new system work.
“Take this national assignment seriously. The ministry will be hard on any officer who tries to sabotage the system,” he cautioned, adding, “We want to make sure the cost of doing business in Ghana is drastically reduced.”
Journalists were also shown around the four-storey modern facility of the Customs Technical Services Bureau (CTSB), which has about 150 officers engaged in document verification, classification, valuation, risk management, quality assurance and other processes geared towards achieving a national single window and will operate around the clock.
The facility is also open to the security agencies, such as the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) and the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service, which might want to verify information on tax fraud.