By Asamoah George Opoku
The Parliament of Ghana has approved a new agreement between the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and TrueDare, marking a significant step toward modernizing the country’s customs operations and strengthening revenue collection. The deal will introduce a digital system to more effectively monitor the movement and classification of cargo entering Ghana.
Chairman of the Finance Committee, Isaac Adongo, noted that the existing Integrated Customs Management System (ICUMS) had limitations that made it difficult to manage pre-arrival cargo arrangements. “Even though we have an existing system, there were weaknesses that made it very difficult to manage the movement of cargo, particularly with respect to pre-arrival arrangements,” he said.
Officials pointed to an example where a cargo shipment that originally left Colombia was rerouted through Egypt, and its documentation was altered. By the time the shipment arrived in Ghana, the description and classification of the goods had been changed, making it impossible for the previous system to track accurately.
“The government has decided to sign this agreement to make sure we are able to get a handle on tracking customs, the classification of customs, and the pricing,” Adongo explained. He added that the system would be implemented at no additional cost to the government.
The new digital platform is expected to improve compliance, reduce revenue leakages, and provide real-time visibility of imports. For the business community, this development promises faster and more transparent cargo clearance processes, which could improve efficiency for importers and logistics operators.
More accurate monitoring and valuation of goods could lead to a significant increase in revenue from customs duties, strengthening Ghana’s economic foundations. With Parliament’s approval, implementation of the TrueDare digital customs system is set to begin immediately, marking a key milestone in Ghana’s efforts to modernize trade infrastructure and enhance government revenue.
