Cabinet has approved for implementation, a new single window trade facilitation
tool which is expected to boost port operations and enhance the paperless
system including raking in more revenue for the country.
The 10-year UNIPASS Trade Facilitation and Customs Management System
contract is being spearheaded by Ghana Link Services Ltd, in conjunction with
Customs UNIPASS International Agency (CUPIA), of the Korean Customs Service
(KCS).
The transition process of the UNIPASS system, which was originally scheduled to start on January 1, 2019, was suspended by the Economic Management Team (EMT) due to challenges in phasing out the old system for the UNIPASS
technology.
Already, officials from the government technical transition team (including
officials from the Ministry of Finance (MOF) and Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) – Customs Division) have visited CUPIA in South Korea, the owners of the UNIPASS system to see at first hand the UNIPASS system as it operates in Korea and how it has impacted on the economic growth of the Asian country.
The Insight newspaper has revealed that before the contract was approved, a six-
month feasibility study was conducted by CUPIA in 2015 with a report on the
“Modernisation of Ghana Customs” using the UNIPASS system being produced
and presented to the government.
In the process, however, training was provided to some senior customs officials in Korea on the UNIPASS system before a green-light was given for the project.
Ghana Link with its overseas partners, CUPIA Korea Customs Service, will provide the trade facilitation and Customs Management System at a 0.75 per cent fee (FOB) per their contract with the Ministry of Trade.
The figure, according to industry experts, is way cheaper than what the existing three vendors, External Verification, WestBlue and GCNet are currently receiving as a fee.
Currently, West Blue Consulting earns 0.28 CIF which is equal to 0.32 FoB,
External Verification earns 0.1 CIF-equivalent of 0.16 FoB, whilst GCNet earns 0.40FoB.
Put all three existing vendors providing single window operations in Ghana together and they are taking 0.84 FoB which is way above UNIPASS’0.75
FoB and saving government 0.9FoB.
On August 4, 2015, West Blue entered into an agreement with the government to
provide a single window government as part of efforts to integrate the systems of service providers at the country’s ports and facilitate the clearing of goods without voluminous paperwork and reduce transactional time.
The contract was to expire on December 31, 2018, after which West Blue would
hand over the system to the government of Ghana which they reportedly have
done.
In March 2018, however, the government of Ghana through the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MOTI) signed a
10-year sole-sourced contract with Ghana Link Network Services Limited for the
“implementation of trade facilitation and customs management system” for
Ghana.
Ghana Link Network Services Limited with its overseas partner, CUPIA Korea Customs Service, would oversee the implementation of the UNIPASS Trade Facilitation & Customs Management System.
The UNIPASS system is currently being used in several other countries including South Korea.
It is well acknowledged by the WTO, WCO, WORLD BANK, amongst others; as one of the best customs systems in the world.
