The Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana have cautioned against the politicization of the country’s trade reforms especially at the ports. According to the association, while there is always room for improvement, the overwhelming evidence points to interventions that have significantly enhanced revenue mobilization, improved transparency, strengthened trade facilitation and contributed to safer and more resilient port operations.
The caution follows what the association said is recent false claims against the Integrated Customs Management System and other related port services by some individuals and organizations that the system is inefficient.
A statement issued by IEAG debunked the claims saying, ” the foremost association representing the interests of Ghana’s importers and exporters, and as active stakeholders within Ghana’s international trade ecosystem, we consider it necessary to set the records straight and provide factual clarification on several inaccurate, misleading and unsubstantiated assertions made against ICUMS and other critical trade facilitation interventions operating at Ghana’s ports”.
“Since its introduction in June 2020 by the Government of Ghana through the Ghana RevenueAuthority (GRA), the Integrated Customs Management System (ICUMS) has become the backbone of customs administration and trade facilitation in Ghana. The system was introduced to replace fragmented customs processes, reduce revenue leakages, improve transparency, enhance compliance and accelerate cargo clearanceprocedures.
Today, ICUMS has successfully integrated customs processes, improved risk management systems, strengthened revenue assurance mechanisms and enhanced stakeholder visibility across the international trade value chain”, the statement stressed.
It further rejected claims that, ICUMS is a dysfunctional system which is leading to huge national losses. “The suggestion by the CSOs that ICUMS is a “dysfunctional system breeding national loss” is not supported by empirical evidence and runs contrary to the actual experiences of many traders, freight forwarders, customs brokers and industry stakeholders who interact with the system daily”. it stated.
Below is the statement from the Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana signed by its Executive Secretary, Mr. Samson Asaki Awingobet.
IEAG DEBUNKS CSOs CLAIMS AGAINST ICUMS AND LCB WORLDWIDESource:tolonradio.com
