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New ICUMS bags GH¢490m in 2 weeks …poised to surpass average GH¢920 monthly revenue collected this year
The new Integrated Customs Management System (ICUMS) which became fully operational at Ghana’s ports this month has generated GH¢490 million between June 1 and 17, 2020
Acting Commissioner-General of Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah, who disclosed this yesterday in Accra, said, that based on average collections from January to May this year, the new system was on course to surpass or match the monthly average revenue of GH¢920 million collected by the GCnet system from January to May this year.
He noted that the collected revenue contradict opinion that the Authority was in line to make losses by deploying the ICUMS.
“So far, notwithstanding the earlier implementation challenges, the system generated GH¢490 million from June 1 to 17, 2020. Looking at this trend, it is obvious that the GRA will not be losing revenue as being highlighted by some sections of society,” he stated.
The system, Mr Owusu-Amoah said, has so far processed 53,000 Customs Bill of Entry (BOEs) nationwide with 16,000 of these submitted at Tema while 12,000 relates to pre-manifest processes.
Out of the total Tema BOEs, about 11,000 have been successfully processed while about 5,000 of the BOEs were at various stages of processing at Customs Technical Services Bureau (CTBS), he indicated.
The 4,000 BOEs, which have been delayed, according to the Acting Commissioner-General, was due to unanswered queries by declarants for the necessary supporting documents, mostly requirements by Ministries, Departments and Agencies such as permits and fees, manifest mismatch and to effect corrections.
Earlier, the system, he said, was confronted with Tax Identification Number (TIN) not populating at the front-end of declarant, which has been resolved, and co-loading and manifest matching which has been addressed with alternative arrangements for all importers who still have challenges with it.
Additionally, the GRA has intensified training of staff and importers in collaboration with the Freight Forwarders Associations to build their capacity and make it user friendly, Mr Owusu-Amoah stated.
He added that “We have established a call centre and support service desks both at the Tema Long Room and at the CTSB to deal with complaints of declarations for speedy resolution. In addition, a toll free number has been established to address the concerns of the trading public.”
He further assured importers that the GRA was engaging the Ministry of Trade and Industry and all other stakeholders to tackle concerns about demurrage in the system adding that “the Customs Division is up to deal with any challenge which will arise from implementation of ICUMS.”
Assistant Commissioner of Customs, Emmanuel Ohene, Sector Commander of Accra and Head of the Technical Implementation Committee of ICUMS, noted that the GRA has projected that it would commence 48-hour end-to-end clearance processes at the port effectively in the next six months to achieve the system’s set goals.
Unlike ICUMS, he explained that previous systems were not able to conduct end-to-end clearance for the three segments which include pre-arrival, clearance and post-clearance.
Source: Ghanaian Times
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Christian Tetteh Yohuno, together with members of the Police Management Board (POMAB), on April 17, 2026, decorated nineteen (19) senior officers who have been promoted to their next ranks based on the recommendations of the Police Council and approval of the President, John Dramani Mahama.
The ceremony, held at the National Police Headquarters in Accra, forms part of efforts to recognise merit, dedication, and long-standing service within the Ghana Police Service, while strengthening leadership across key operational and administrative levels.
The officers promoted from Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) to Commissioner of Police (COP) are Dr. Luke Asue-In-Yeng Zakpaa, Mr. Frederick Agyei, Mr. Duuti Tuaruka, Mr. Arthur Osei-Akoto, Mr. Darko Offei Lomotey, Mr. Eric Ken Winful, Mr. Barnabas Nambont Nasumong, and Mr. Desmond Owusu Boampong.
The IGP and members of POMAB congratulated the officers and urged them to uphold the highest standards of professionalism and integrity in the discharge of their duties.
The Global Network of Export-Import Banks and Development Finance Institutions (G-NEXID) successfully held its sixth (6th) Exchange Programme, hosted by the Ghana Export – Import Bank (GEXIM) Bank in Accra from March 22 to 23 March.
The event brought together member institutions, partner organisations and Ghanaian public entities to advance dialogue on South-South trade, investment and development finance, while also creating opportunities for knowledge-sharing and institutional cooperation.
Organised as a capacity-building and networking platform, the 2026 edition of the G-NEXID Exchange focused on GEXIM’s experience in developing innovative solutions to promote intra-African and extra-African trade.
It also highlighted trade and investment opportunities in Ghana, particularly in the context of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and broader national development initiatives.
The Exchange Programme forms part of G-NEXID’s mandate to foster cooperation among export-import banks and development finance institutions in support of South-South trade and investment.
This 6th edition follows earlier successful programmes hosted by India Exim Bank (2016), BNDES (2017), Indonesia Eximbank (2018), Afreximbank (2019) and Saudi EXIM Bank (2025).
On the first day, participants were presented with G-NEXID institutional information and received an update on the Network’s 2026 work programme.
There were a series of substantive presentations, including an overview of the Ghanaian economy by the Ministry of Finance, with particular attention to debt-related challenges; a presentation by the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), on investment opportunities in the country; and institutional presentations by GEXIM and Development Bank Ghana (DBG) on their respective mandates, initiatives, products and services.
Discussions during the sessions underscored strong interest in sector-focused webinars and business dialogues, particularly in agribusiness value chains such as poultry and rice.
Participants also emphasized the importance of continued information exchange and the sharing of best practices, especially in the area of guarantees.
The second day opened with a presentation on the 24-Hour Economy and Accelerated Export Development Programme, a national economic transformation strategy launched by President John Dramani Mahama in July 2025.
The initiative aims to enhance economic productivity through continuous industrial activity, accelerated export development and strategic import substitution.
As the programme is expected to mobilise both private and development capital, it presents concrete opportunities for G-NEXID members in areas such as co-financing, guarantees, trade finance and technical cooperation.
The programme also featured institutional presentations by guest organisations, namely the African Guarantee and Economic Cooperation Fund (FAGACE) and the West African Development Bank (BOAD), which shared their mandates, initiatives, products and services.
Following these exchanges, the G-NEXID Secretariat held bilateral discussions with both institutions as part of the Network’s ongoing membership drive.
Participants further benefited from a presentation by the Eastern and Southern African Trade and Development Bank (TDB), as well as a showcase of GEXIM’s key pipeline projects.
On the margins of the Exchange Programme, G-NEXID members also held their 20th Annual General Assembly Meeting to review progress and discuss strategic priorities.
Following the event, participants joined the GEXIM@10 International Conference, held from March 24-25, 2026 under the theme, “A Decade of Enabling Export Trade and Industrial Transformation: Resetting GEXIM for the Next Frontier.”
The conference provided an important platform for exploring how Ghana can strengthen its transition from a primary commodity exporter to a more competitive player in value-added trade and industrial development.
Source – G-NEXID
