Mr Walter A. Onyango, Deputy General Manager of Inspection and Control Services Limited (ICS) at the weekend noted that valuation is key to trade facilitation in the assessment of customs duties and revenue generation.

He said valuation is a significant element in other aspects of international trade such as statistics, taxes and other charges levied on importation and the application of risk management systems.

Mr Onyango made the observation at the end of a four-week training course on the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Agreement on Customs Valuation, Expanding the Knowledge Base.

The workshop which was the first of two training sessions organised this year on valuation attracted participants from Customs Division of Ghana Revenue Authority, Economics and Organised Crime Office and Ministry of Trade and Industry. The course was a continuous improving regiment of ICS as part of a contractual obligation to train stakeholders to make the right judgement for importers and government in terms of the revenue that would accrue to the State.

Valuation is the core function of customs, which is an interactive convention ratified by Ghana. Mr Onyango said the training was one of the number of refresher programmes the participants need in the course of performing their duties.

“The competitive strength of Ghana depends not only on capital investment but also on the ability of people to learn and relearn, adapt to changes and demand, innovate and have positive moral values.

“Continuous efforts need to be dedicated to systematic training and skills upgrading to ensure employees possess the latest and relevant knowledge and skills for organisations to build quality and winning products and services,” he said. Mr Onyango said organisations that are dedicated to develop their human capital through continuous training and skills upgrading would be able to strengthen their capabilities to achieve competitive advantage.

Mr Farouk Imoro Adam, Deputy Commissioner in charge of Operations at Customs Division, said haven undergone training in valuation, the participants should be able to perform their functions creditably.

He said in order to boost their ability on the job the customs personnel who have avail themselves of the training on valuation would be regrouped to be schooled on classification. Mr Eric Kemausuor, Senior Collector of Customs, who was a course participant appealed to the organisers of the workshop, to extend the timeframe of subsequent training sessions to enable participants to be able to assimilate what they have been exposed to.

Mr Shaju Jose Vallapy of the ICS Inspection Control Services Limited in Kuwait was the main facilitator of the course. ICS, Ghana started operations in January 2003 and is part of the ICS Group, which comprises various firms with extensive e-government experience and international infrastructure.

The group assists governments in enhancing trade revenues while maintaining controls and facilitating trade. ICS was established in 1996 to provide governments with effective services designed to enhance customs and tax revenues.

The company has over the years developed into a world-wide organisation with expertise in specialised technology and a creative and practical system for providing valuation assistance to customs organisations in accordance with WTO and World Customs Organisation guidelines. The ICS Group currently relies on the expertise and support of 550 offices located in more than 100 countries.