GeGov Project to Go LIVE in September 2011

GeGov, the Project to deliver a new electronic system for the Registrar-General’s Department and the Ghana Revenue Authority, will soon go LIVE. GeGov is a Public Private Partnership between GCNet and Government of Ghana, specifically the Ministry of Communications, Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Registrar-General’s Department (RGD) and the National Information Technology Agency(NITA), to automate Business Registration and Tax Administration. The project is supported and partly funded by the World Bank.

GCNet has been mandated to design, finance, build, operate and transfer an eGovernment System including new applications for both the RGD and the GRA. The aim of the project is to modernize key MDAs computerise business registration, enhance revenue mobilization and provide a citizen-friendly service.

To ensure staff are fully equipped with the necessary skills, GRA and RGD, will be provided with computer literacy and trips™/GeReg application training, and purpose built IT training facilities. In addition a substantial infrastructure component has been incorporated including: a state of the art Data Centre and Disaster Recovery Site as well as equipment for offices across the country including PCs, Laptops, Printers, Scanners, Generators, UPS and Network devices. The Project is expected to improve the ease of doing business including: online business registration, online filling of Tax Returns and payments, integration of VAT and IRS processes and other Online Shared Services

In addition to these benefits, the system will support the development of Ghana through enhancing transparency and improving accountability due to integration with the new GIFMIS Financial Management Application at the Controller & Accountant General’s Department and the effective mobilisation of revenue. The solution has 3 major components:

• Total Revenue Integrated Processing System (trips™) for Tax Identification Number (TIN) and Domestic Tax processing
• GeReg for business registration, civil marriages and administration of estates
• Shared Services accessible online, enhancing reporting, communications and payments.

The system will be launched at selected GRA/RGD Pilot sites. Phase-1 will be launched in September 2011 for trips™ Taxpayer Registration (GRA), GeReg (Registrar-General’s Department) and Shared Services. Phase-2 will be launched in December 2011 for trips™ Core Tax Application. Phase-3 will be in March 2012 for additional trips™ functionality.

The selected sites are Registrar-General’s Department Head Office Accra, GRA Makola, GRA Agbogloshie, GRA Legon, GRA VAT House (Adabraka), GRA Spintex Road, GRA Head Office Ministries (former IRS and VAT Head Offices), GRA Kaneshie (former SGSVAT), GRA Ashaiman, GRA Tema (former VAT Tema) and GRA Achimota.

The rollout then goes country-wide to 122 offices within four years. A major component of the project is the issuance of new Tax Identification Numbers (TINs) which will be used as a common identifier for all Taxpayers as well as facilitating the way in which RGD and GRA share information.

RGD Contacts:

• Accra -opposite Ghana News Agency/Tema station - call 0302-664692
• Kumasi - Asafo call 03220-42156
• Sekondi - Ministries call 03120-48528
• Tamale - Regional Coordinating Council call 03720-23715

For RGD enquiries call the RGD Client Service Directorate on 0302-664691. For GRA enquiries call the Customs Division and Domestic Tax Revenue Division (DTRD) Customer Service Desk on 0302-686106. or visit the following websites:

http://www.gcnet.com.gh, http://www.rgd.gov.gh. http://www.gra.gov.gh, Gegov Gcnet@facebook.com