Webb Fontaine trains Customs, others on tariff classification

Destination inspection company Webb Fontaine has opened a three-week training workshop on harmonised system tariff classification for Customs officers, officials of the Ministry of Trade and Industry and its staff in Accra.

About 60 Customs officers drawn from the various border posts in the country, including Bolgatanga, Wa, Elubo, Aflao and Accra; six officials from the Ministry of Trade and Industry; and six staff of the company will be trained in batches of three within the duration.

The harmonised system tariff classification also known as harmonised commodity description and coding system, is an internationally standardised system of names and numbers to classify traded products.

Under this system, goods are first assigned to sections, and subsequently proceed to assign these goods to their specific chapter, heading, and subheading, in that order, as necessary.

Mr. Derek Clay, Managing Director of Webb Fontaine, in an interview with Maritime and Transport Digest, shared the rationale behind the workshop and what it means to the operational efficiency of Customs: “This is a training programme to enlighten Customs officers and other participants on the harmonised system tariff classification which is a core competency tool that can enable them to work more efficiently and productively.

“Webb Fontaine is organising this capacity-building event as part of our contractual responsibility to provide training for Customs officers and other stakeholders in the maritime industry by exposing them to the needed know-how and expertise to keep them updated with the current trends and demands of the work.

“This particular training is very important as it will enable Customs to apply efficient tools that are required to ensure commonality in goods classification.”

Mr. Clay asked the participants to take advantage of the workshop to increase their knowledge on harmonised system tariff classification and commended the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority for their continued cooperation with the company, especially as it seeks to upgrade the knowledge base of its personnel to inure efficiency and productivity.