Ghana’s Importers and Exporters Association has called for reforms to the Integrated Customs Management System (ICUMS) rather than scrapping it altogether, citing its role in improving trade efficiency and boosting customs revenue.
The association acknowledged concerns over the implementation of the Unique Consignment Reference (UCR) within ICUMS but maintained that the system remains critical for revenue collection. In 2024, ICUMS contributed to a rise in customs revenue, which increased to GHS44.3 billion from GHS30.6 billion the previous year.
Speaking at a press conference, the association’s Executive Secretary, Samson Asaki Awingobit, urged stakeholders to collaborate in refining the system, insisting that challenges related to the UCR were policy-driven rather than flaws within ICUMS itself.
“It is crucial to emphasise that the concerns surrounding UCR implementation are not specific to ICUMS but are instead matters of government policy,” he said. “Addressing these challenges requires a broader policy dialogue at the governmental level.”
Mr Awingobit described ICUMS as a “work in progress” and called for patience as efforts continue to enhance its efficiency.
“The journey towards a fully integrated and efficient customs management system is a marathon, not a sprint. ICUMS has already brought us closer to the finish line, and we must not abandon it midway,” he said.
He urged Ghanaians to support improvements to ICUMS rather than discard a system that has shown “immense potential” for the country’s economic progress.
