This follows successful simulation and piloting of ICUMS at Tema Port, the final port to be hooked onto the system.

With the exception of Tema Port, ICUMS has been operating at all entry points across Ghana for over a month now.

ICUMS is a system built by Universal Pass (UNI-PASS), specially tailored to Ghana’s situation and provides an end-to-end supply chain solution that incorporates and consolidates existing systems currently in operation.

Ghana Link Services Limited

Ghana Link Services Limited, which has a 10-year contract with the Government of Ghana as technical partner, contracted CUPIA of Korea to deploy its electronic customs management system, called Universal Pass (UNI-PASS) which is now known as the Integrated Customs Management System ICUMS, for Ghana’s trade facilitation.

The system, deployed by Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), replaces the Ghana Customs Management System GCMS. This means that GCNet and West Blue Consulting cease to operate at Ghana’s ports from June 1.

ICUMS, essentially, is an electronic customs clearance system, which computerises customs procedures and provides for the automation of the clearance process as a solution to overcome the increased volumes in trade and travellers given the limited resources available.

ICUMS is currently operating in countries in Africa, South America and Asia, including Korea, and is composed of 77 modules.

These include processes such as Manifest input, Classification and Valuation, Cargo Handling and Clearance, Free Zones, Transit and Bonded Warehousing, Human Resource Administration, and Risk Management.

It also has five subordinate systems: A Single Window (SW) system, a clearance management system, a cargo management system, an information management system, and an administration system.

With the new system deployment, all new Bill of Entry for import/export/transit will have to be processed through the ICUMS.

Release of Cargo processed in Ghana Customs Management System (GCMS)

To have business continuity and smooth transition, the Ghana Revenue Authority GRA has put in place a process flow to allow freight forwarders to get the release of their cargo which had it Bills of Entry (BoEs) processed in Ghana Customs Management System (GCMS).

This process flow is to ensure that the business at the Tema Port is not cut abruptly or creates congestion.

This information has been shared with all Freight Forwarders and Clearing House Agents, Shipping Lines, Terminal Operators, Consolidators and all other stakeholders including the MMDA’s.

ICUMS is a departure from the previous system

ICUMS is a departure from the previous system where 'valuation and classification' and 'risk management and payment' were handled by different entities.

"The decision to discontinue the services of GCNet and West Blue was informed by the need to replace the multiplicity of vendors with a single service provider deploying an end-to-end system," according to a statement issued by GRA in announcing the plan.

"The UNI-PASS technology has been deployed successfully in Tanzania since 2015 under the name Tancis, which the World Customs Organisation (WCO) has acclaimed as one of the best innovative trade facilitation systems.

Cameroon, like Ghana, has deployed the same technology after successfully developing its system early this year," according to a GRA statement issued in late April 2020.

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