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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
Madam Sandra Seyram Kpedor, the District Chief Executive (DCE) of Anloga in the Volta Region, has emphasised the importance of parental involvement in children’s education, stating that education is free, but parents need to do more to support their children.
She said parents, teachers, and students must be involved in addressing the challenges facing the district’s education sector, particularly the poor Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) results.
Madam Kpedor outlined some key roles parents should play to promote their children’s education, including providing a conducive learning environment, monitoring their children’s progress, and supporting teachers.
The DCE highlighted some challenges the district faced such as inadequate infrastructure and a shortage of teachers, which have also contributed to the poor BECE results and called on well-to-do parent to help solve the situation through and other supports.
To address the issues, she also announced that plans have been taken to utilise the district’s common fund to implement educational projects, such as constructing school blocks and teachers’ bungalows at Sodzi community, and 2-unit classroom blocks each at Akplorwutorkor and Tegbi-Afedome respectively, among others.
Madam Kpedor also noted that her office had earlier notified the Ministry of Education to deploy more teachers to the area to improve teaching and learning, and encouraged students to work hard and strive for excellence, and work beyond their limit to succeed.
“To my wonderful and beautiful girls, you have to know it clear that women and girls have equal opportunities to compete with men for greater achievements,” she indicated.
The DCE cited her own achievement as a testament to the fact that women can excel in leadership positions, alongside Vice President Nana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, and stressed that girls were no longer limited to domestic roles but can pursue their dreams and become leaders.
Additionally, she mentioned that a meeting was held earlier with assembly members, and other stakeholders to address the district’s educational challenges and improve academic performance.
She promised that the district’s education oversight committee and stakeholders would work together to address the challenges and improve the district’s BECE results and called for parental involvement and support to boost the district’s education sector for children to chase their dreams to become future leaders for the success of the district and the nation.
She urged parents not to leave everything to the government but rather help in the provision of some necessary materials such as textbooks, exercise books, pens, pencils, food, and guidance to children for the successes of young learners. –GNA
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The spokesperson for Dr. Bawumia, Dennis Miracles Aboagye, has criticised the implementation of the NDC government’s No Fee Stress policy, arguing that the programme has failed to deliver on its core promise.
According to him on Starr fm, the policy, which was introduced to ensure stress free payment of fees for level 100 tertiary students, has rather turned into what he described as post stress support.
He explained that students are required to pay their fees first before applying for reimbursement, a situation he believes defeats the purpose of the policy.
He questioned claims by government officials that the policy has been successful and that citizens are happy.
In his view, such claims do not reflect the lived realities of many Ghanaians. He stressed that while some people may appear satisfied, many others continue to struggle.
Dennis Miracles Aboagye pointed to the situation of trained teachers and nurses who have been picketing for nearly six months, demanding employment.
He noted that government responses suggesting it cannot accommodate all of them contradict claims of economic stability.
He further argued that economic indicators such as a stable currency mean little to people who are unable to secure jobs or access promised support.
He observed that telling an unemployed teacher or a struggling student that the cedi has strengthened does not address their immediate challenges.
On the issue of tertiary education, he maintained that no level 100 student benefited from stress free fees in 2025, despite the policy being announced.
He added that in 2026, students have already reported to school without receiving the promised support.
He insisted that asking students to pay fees first and seek reimbursement later amounts to support after hardship, not stress free education.
According to him, this approach goes against what was promised during the policy announcement.
Dennis Miracles Aboagye questioned why a government that presents the economy as strong is unable to fulfil what he described as simple and clear promises.
He added that there is a fundamental problem with the way the economy is being managed and indicated that he is prepared to explain his position further.
By: Jacob Aggrey
