The Customs Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) and Ghana Community Network Services Limited (GCNet) would todoay launch the Ghana Customs Management System (GCMS) to expedite customs clearance. Briefing the press on the system in Accra last Friday, the Ag. Assistant Commissioner for Information Technology, Mr. Samuel Quarshie said the $7m custom automation project would help customers clear their items within four hours.

He said the GCMS would provide systematic monitoring of the movement of consignments, facilitate post-clearance control to account for all consignments and ensure transparency in processing declaration.

Mr. Quarshie said the system, which is currently on a pilot project at the Kotoka International Airport, would "enable accurate real-time statistics on revenue and foreign trade as well as to build the professional image of Customs".

He said all the parties involved in customs clearance have been networked to a common platform. On arrival of an aircraft or vessel, the details are transmitted electronically through fibre optic cables to TradeNet at GCNet and Customs with a copy to the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA).

A clearing agent would then have to make an electronic customs declaration to TradeNet, which is then transmitted to the GCMS at CEPS Headquarters. Within a few minutes the declaration is validated and a reply given to the agent.

Mr. Quarshie said Ecobank and the Ghana Commercial Bank (GCB) will collect the duties and taxes and other charges.

On completion of the project the entry points at Elubo, Takoradi, Paga, Kumasi, Aflao, James Town and Tema will be networked.

This automated system should reduce the time customers have to spend clearing their goods. It is believed that it would help decongest the ports and the warehouses where goods are left for weeks due to the cumbersome in clearing items.