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