The introduction of the Integrated Customs Management System (ICUMS) has more than doubled monthly Customs revenue collected at the Tema Port, according to the World Bank.

Before the introduction of ICUMS, Customs collected about GH¢500 million to GH¢600 million a month from the port.

However, collections increased to between GH¢1.2 billion and GH¢1.4 billion after the system became operational in April 2023.

Mahama did the 'right things' to turn Ghana's economy around – Dangote

The World Bank attributed the increase to improved compliance, reduced revenue leakages and fewer opportunities for tax evasion.

The findings are contained in the World Bank’s 10th Economic Update, published in August 2025.

According to the report, Customs collections rose to about GH¢1.2 billion in April 2023, the first month of ICUMS operations.

From April to December that year, monthly collections remained between GH¢1.2 billion and GH¢1.4 billion.

The World Bank said monthly Customs revenue later remained at around GH¢1.2 billion, with total collections exceeding GH¢20 billion during the system’s first five years.

ICUMS has moved several Customs processes from manual to digital, reducing human involvement and making it more difficult to falsify documents.

The system also uses scanners to inspect cargo without opening containers, helping Customs identify high-risk goods and clear low-risk shipments faster.

Kenya ready to break ground on $17 billion East Africa refinery – Ruto

The World Bank said the digital reforms had also helped reduce container turnaround time at the Tema Port to about three days.

It said the gains demonstrated how technology could improve revenue collection while making trade faster and more efficient.

DR/MA

Foundries, Machines and Jet Engines: Ghana’s untapped engineering potential