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UN/CEFACT Symposium on Single Window Standards and Interoperability
Geneva, 3-5 May 2006
Palais des Nations
Single Window Implementation
Experience of Ghana
UNECE UN/CEFACT
Background
GCNet – Ghana Community Network was established in
Nov2000. GCNet is a Public Private Partnership and mandated
by the Government to Implement and manage a Single
Window system for the processing of international trade-
related processes with Customs as the central core element
UNECE UN/CEFACT
Project Implementation Team (PIT) established with
representation of all major stakeholders
Identification of needs and agreement on streamlined
procedures and processes
Comprehensive sensitization programme was developed
Customisation of existing Mauritius system
Deployment of system in phases
Full process undertaken by the GCNet JV PPP company
Design and development process
UNECE UN/CEFACT
Submission and distribution of Manifests (Master and
House)
Submission and distribution of Customs Declarations
Confirmation of D&T payment at Commercial Banks
Issuing and transfer of Customs release approval
Issuing and transfer of Delivery Order
Web Portal with trade related information, some real-time
Direct access to Government Ministries to real-time data
Structure and services
UNECE UN/CEFACT
Technology
EDI based system (TradeNet) coupled with Customs
Management System
Networking through Fibre Optic and radio network
Oracle database
Unix platform
Legacy systems interfaced through EDI messaging
UNECE UN/CEFACT
Customs
TradeNet Server
Commercial Banks
Declarants
Shipping Lines / Agents
Government Ministries and
Agencies
GCMS Server
OPTIC FIBER
Freight Terminals
EDI
EDI
EDI
EDI
EDI
Internet
Backup Server
System Architecture
UNECE UN/CEFACT
AccraTema
Aflao
Elubo
Takoradi
Paga
Geographical coverage
Côte d’Ivoire
Burkina Faso
Togo
UNECE UN/CEFACT
Participants
GCNet shareholders are: Customs, Ecobank, Ghana
Commercial Bank, Ghana Shippers Council, SGS
Other stakeholders:
o Ministry of Finance
o Ministry of Trade and Industry
o Ship Owners And Agents Association
o Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders
o Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority
o Narcotics Control Board
o Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority
o Private Freight Terminals
o Central Bank
UNECE UN/CEFACT
Clients
System processing 97% of official trade All active Declarants connected – 400 Clearing Agents and
Self Importer located at 625 locations All active Shipping (65) and Forwarding Agents (50) connected 357,781 declarations processed in 2005 (Total 800,000 since
startup in 2002) 5,878 manifests processed in 2005 (2,501 sea, 3,377 air) 440 customs terminals deployed covering all key functions –
eg doc review, examination, post-event, audit, management, tariff etc…
600 customs officers trained and active using the system GCNet, 70 employees (Network dept, Systems Dept, IT
security Dept, Ops support, Call Centre, Training)
UNECE UN/CEFACT
Business model
Initial Investment provided by GCNet Shareholders as
equity contribution
Network Charge applied on “Home consumption”
declarations as a percentage of FOB value
The Network Charge covers all infrastructure, software,
renewal of equipment, training, change management,
capacity building etc…
Overall project cost USD 7 Mio
UNECE UN/CEFACT
Results
Benefits of the system are multiple. The major benefits are as follows: For the Importer/Exporter: faster clearance time, more
transparent process, more predictable process, less bureaucracy.
For Customs: vastly improved staff working through upgraded infrastructure, substantial increase in Customs revenue, more structured and controlled working environment, more professionalism.
Commercial Banks: Increase in number of customers, increase amount of funds passing through banking operations, collection of dividends from GCNet (being shareholders)
Government: substantial increase in Government revenue, example of best practice for the region, recognition by donors.
Economy: Improved transparency and governance in Customs.
UNECE UN/CEFACT
Data Exchange
As much as possible international standards used for
data-exchange
Discussions have been held for cross-border data
exchange (Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso) but not yet in
use.
UNECE UN/CEFACT
Legal issues
In the absence of any e-legislation at the time of inception, a
Legislative Instrument was enacted to allow for electronic
Customs declarations and its related processes
UNECE UN/CEFACT
Lessons learned
It is possible to roll-out a complex system, with the rightcapabilities and approaches being adopted. The private-public sector partnership that was adopted has become a model for e-governance projects in Ghana.
Success Factors
Strong support from Government
Private sector involvement for project management
A balanced selection of complementary partners with unique
strengths
Absolute conviction by key players that project could work
A financing model that is self-sustainable
UNECE UN/CEFACT
What are your future plans for the Single Window?
MDA project – interconnecting of all Government
Ministries and Agencies for permit and exemption
processing
Transit project – improve monitoring of goods in transit
using the GCNet system
Cross-border data exchange
UNECE UN/CEFACT
What do you see as the biggest challenges for Single Window Interoperability
In Ghana, overcoming weak infrastructure – physical,
network, power
Change of mind-sets and ways of working
Lack of effective existing systems to interconnect to.
(IRS, Free Zones etc…)
UNECE UN/CEFACT
UNECE UN/CEFACT