Mahama cautions on destination inspection

President John Dramani Mahama has asked heads of Customs in the sub-region to take a critical look at the role of Destination Inspection Activities by the private sector and revenue and security implications within the various countries.
 

“Directors-General should look at innovative ways to improve transit trade and the free movement of people in the sub-region without compromising revenue and national security.

“Directors-General of Customs in our sub-region should explore areas where progress is needed in trade facilitation and improved revenue mobilisation.”

President Mahama made this statement in a speech read on his behalf at the 18^th Conference of Directors-General of the Customs Administration For The World Customs Organisation West and Central Africa Region, under the theme “Innovation in customs, a catalyst for regional capacity building”.

President Mahama said: “Indeed, the WCO trade facilitation has become a core mandate of Customs; but the reality is that our tax administration should be able to balance trade facilitation with revenue mobilisation. That is why we need to enhance regulatory cooperation among Customs administrations in our sub-region.

“Improved tax systems will certainly serve as catalysts for trade facilitation, investment promotion and the creation of a solid regional block.”

He added: “Customs is always at the cutting-edge of trade facilitation efforts, by ensuring the seamless flow of goods and people across our borders. These efforts are aimed at reducing the transaction costs of business and improving investment opportunities.”

The Minister of Trade and Industry, Haruna Iddrisu, disclosed that very soon the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority(GRA) will perform the role of destination inspection -- which calls for the capacity of Customs to be built in order to perform this role more efficiently.

When this is done, it will help simplify trade facilitation processes and improve Customs procedures to improve revenue generation.

Mr. Idrrisu indicated that Government will equip all entry points with up-to-date scanners to facilitate trade and also improve on revenue generation. There are revenue leakages, and every effort will be made to plug them to bring efficiency and enable Government to derive the much-needed revenue for national development.

 “We need to reduce the time and cost in our port clearance system. Best practice exists in this part of the world; we have no reason not to work toward attaining best standards.”

Mr. George Blankson, Commissioner-General of the Ghana Revenue Authority, said Ghana’s tax system is expected to be fully transformed when the current integration and modernisation programme is fully implemented.
 

He said over the years Customs has assumed some equally challenging roles which now include trade facilitation, investment promotion and national security -- including controlling the  entry of prohibited and restricted goods.

Globally, Customs modernisation programmes are driven by information communication technology. The establishment of an electronic data interchange platform has drastically transformed the operational environment of Ghana Customs, he said.

Secretary-General of World Customs Organisation, Kunio Mikuriya, for his part said his outfit intends working with the African Union and the African Development Bank to boost intra-African Trade, which should begin by 2017.

This can become a reality when trade facilitation is given top priority, which requires a new role for Customs to take centre-stage to fast-track the process.

Mr. Mikuriya pledged his outfit’s support in the area of capacity-building for Customs to do detailed analyses of goods to facilitate trade and also improve the technical-know-how of Customs.