Single Window Implementation Experience of Ghana

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Single Window ImplementationExperience of Ghana
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Background

• GCNet Ghana Community Network was established
  in Nov2000. GCNet is a Public Private Partnership
  and mandated by the Government to Implement and
  manage a Single Window system for the processing
  of international trade-related processes with
  Customs as the central core element

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Design and development process

• Project Implementation Team (PIT) established
  with representation of all major stakeholders
• Identification of needs and agreement on
  streamlined procedures and processes
• Comprehensive sensitization programme was
  developed
• Customisation of existing Mauritius system
• Deployment of system in phases
• Full process undertaken by the GCNet JV PPP
  company

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Structure and services

• Submission and distribution of Manifests (Master
  and House)
• Submission and distribution of Customs
  Declarations
• Confirmation of DT payment at Commercial Banks
• Issuing and transfer of Customs release approval
• Issuing and transfer of Delivery Order
• Web Portal with trade related information, some
  real-time
• Direct access to Government Ministries to
  real-time data

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Technology

• EDI based system (TradeNet) coupled with Customs
  Management System
• Networking through Fibre Optic and radio network
• Oracle database
• Unix platform
• Legacy systems interfaced through EDI messaging

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System Architecture
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Geographical coverage
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Participants

• GCNet shareholders are Customs, Ecobank, Ghana
  Commercial Bank, Ghana Shippers Council, SGS
• Other stakeholders
• Ministry of Finance
• Ministry of Trade and Industry
• Ship Owners And Agents Association
• Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders
• Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority
• Narcotics Control Board
• Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority
• Private Freight Terminals
• Central Bank

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Clients

• System processing 97 of official trade
• All active Declarants connected 400 Clearing
  Agents and Self Importer located at 625 locations
• All active Shipping (65) and Forwarding Agents
  (50) connected
• 357,781 declarations processed in 2005 (Total
  800,000 since startup in 2002)
• 5,878 manifests processed in 2005 (2,501 sea,
  3,377 air)
• 440 customs terminals deployed covering all key
  functions eg doc review, examination,
  post-event, audit, management, tariff etc
• 600 customs officers trained and active using the
  system
• GCNet, 70 employees (Network dept, Systems Dept,
  IT security Dept, Ops support, Call Centre,
  Training)

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Business model

• Initial Investment provided by GCNet Shareholders
  as equity contribution
• Network Charge applied on Home consumption
  declarations as a percentage of FOB value
• The Network Charge covers all infrastructure,
  software, renewal of equipment, training, change
  management, capacity building etc
• Overall project cost USD 7 Mio

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Results

• Benefits of the system are multiple. The major
  benefits are as
• follows
• For the Importer/Exporter faster clearance time,
  more transparent process, more predictable
  process, less bureaucracy.
• For Customs vastly improved staff working
  through upgraded infrastructure, substantial
  increase in Customs revenue, more structured and
  controlled working environment, more
  professionalism.
• Commercial Banks Increase in number of
  customers, increase amount of funds passing
  through banking operations, collection of
  dividends from GCNet (being shareholders)
• Government substantial increase in Government
  revenue, example of best practice for the region,
  recognition by donors.
• Economy Improved transparency and governance in
  Customs.

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Data Exchange

• As much as possible international standards used
  for data-exchange
• Discussions have been held for cross-border data
  exchange (Côte dIvoire, Burkina Faso) but not
  yet in use.

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Legal issues

• In the absence of any e-legislation at the time
  of inception, a Legislative Instrument was
  enacted to allow for electronic Customs
  declarations and its related processes

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Lessons learned

• It is possible to roll-out a complex system, with
  the right
• capabilities and approaches being adopted. The
  private-public
• sector partnership that was adopted has become a
  model for e-
• governance projects in Ghana.
• Success Factors
• Strong support from Government
• Private sector involvement for project management
• A balanced selection of complementary partners
  with unique strengths
• Absolute conviction by key players that project
  could work
• A financing model that is self-sustainable

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What are your future plans for the Single Window?

• MDA project interconnecting of all Government
  Ministries and Agencies for permit and exemption
  processing
• Transit project improve monitoring of goods in
  transit using the GCNet system
• Cross-border data exchange

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What do you see as the biggest challenges for
Single Window Interoperability

• In Ghana, overcoming weak infrastructure
  physical, network, power
• Change of mind-sets and ways of working
• Lack of effective existing systems to
  interconnect to. (IRS, Free Zones etc)

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UNECE UN/CEFACT