In a concerted effort to streamline Ghana’s trade facilitation processes, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Shippers’ Authority (GSA), Prof. Ransford Gyampo, has been engaging key industry stakeholders.
His latest meeting, held at the GSA headoffice on Friday, 7th March 2025, saw the leadership of the Integrated Customs Management System (ICUMS) paying a courtesy visit to discuss ways to enhance the efficiency of Ghana’s digital Customs clearance infrastructure.
The meeting underscored the critical role of ICUMS in ensuring smooth cargo clearance and trade facilitation. Prof. Gyampo commended the contributions of ICUMS over the years to facilitate trade, but emphasized the need for continuous improvements to enhance reliability.
Stressing the importance of a seamless digital trade environment, Prof. Gyampo said, “Your work is pivotal in ensuring that shippers experience minimal delays. The fewer the glitches, the smoother the process.
The Director of Operations at ICUMS, Mr. Raymond Amaglo, who led the delegation, reaffirmed their commitment to optimizing trade processes. “Efficiency is our priority. We value this engagement and take your feedback seriously. Our goal is to refine our systems so that trade flows unhindered,” he assured. Accompanying him were Operations Manager, Lipton Baffour Ndoah and Consultant Charles Okaijah Noah, both of whom echoed the commitment to minimizing disruptions in cargo clearance.
The discussions took place amid Ghana’s broader ambitions to position itself as a trade hub in West Africa. A well-functioning Customs management system is a linchpin in this strategy, that ensures that importers and exporters face minimal bureaucratic hurdles, if any. Occasional technical challenges within ICUMS, however, have drawn scrutiny, with stakeholders urging greater system resilience to prevent costly delays.
The meeting signaled a shared understanding that a reliable and responsive trade ecosystem is essential for economic growth.
Prof. Gyampo, who has embarked on a series of stakeholder engagements since assuming office, has prioritized firsthand interactions with industry players. He has already engaged various trade actors seeking to explore avenues for collaboration. His engagements reflect an urgency to address inefficiencies and establish a dynamic, solution-oriented approach to trade facilitation.
Joining Prof. Gyampo in the meeting were senior officials of the GSA, including Director of Operations, Ms. Sylvia Asana Dauda Owu, Director of Finance, Mr. Peter Mensah-Abrampah, and Head of Management Information Systems, Mr. Godwin Kofi Ameka Biney.
