Senior Minister Yaw Osafo-Maafo has expressed satisfaction on the progress of work regarding the implementation of the new Integrated Customs Management System (ICUMS) and has therefore tasked the Ghana Revenue Authority GRA to ensure its smooth take-off at the Tema Port.

“This exercise has been very successful with the system able to accept the manifest from shipping lines, and the ability of freight forwarders to use it. I must say with what we have seen today I have no doubt that we’ll be able to take–off come implementation date.

The rest of the work rests on the Customs officials who will have to stand ready for the take-off,” he said after a simulation and stress test exercise for the new system at the port.

The simulation exercise was conducted by the Ghana Revenue Authority in collaboration with Ghana Link Network Services Limited and the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority.

It was carried out to test the ability of the ICUMS to facilitate the free flow of both imports and exports in the presence of key stakeholders including Meridian Port Services (MPS) Limited, Ghana Shippers Authority GSA and the shipping lines and other port regulatory agencies.

The exercise also tested response time in dealing with incidents such as grounding of a vessel due to an oil spill that could have environmental repercussions on the port’s marine wildlife.

The success of the simulation was seen in the readiness of the ICUMS for public use at the Tema Port as well as the Kotoka International Airport.

Acting Commissioner–General of the GRA Amisshadai Owusu-Amoah, assured the Senior Minister of the Authority’s determination to ensure the project’s smooth take-off.

“Everything is going as planned and am impressed with the effort put in by the service provider and my officers. The simulation has been successful and its gives us the confidence with regards to the rollout date”

He added that when the ICUMS is fully deployed at the Tema Port which is the biggest in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), the country will see an increase in revenue over time with many of the current loopholes blocked.

The ICUMS system is expected to be deployed at the end of the month of May at the Tema Port and the KIA.