The Executive Chairman of the Ghana Community Network Services Limited (GCNet), Dr Nortey Omaboe has been awarded The Outstanding Leadership Award at the 3^rd Ghana Shippers Awards held in Accra.

The award is in recognition of Dr Omaboe’s exemplary and visionary leadership to leverage technology to automate processes to facilitate trade and increase revenue for national development.

This is the second time Dr Omaboe has won a topmost award at the Ghana Shippers Awards. At the maiden edition of the Awards in 2017, Dr Omaboe won the CEO of the Year award for his exceptional leadership character, vision, integrity and focus to continuously provide direction to deliver projects that have directly impacted on increasing revenues while facilitating trade.

Dr Nortey Omaboe’s contribution and achievements in the ICT and Trade facilitation sector in the country and beyond remains pivotal in the development pursuit of the nation. This is demonstrated in the development and implementation of innovative and award-winning projects.

Under the leadership of Dr Omaboe, GCNet has deployed some innovative projects (e-products) such as the smart end to end Customs Management Systems, the Single Window for trading and e-Tax for domestic taxation for Ghana Revenue Authority (Customs Division and Domestic Tax Division) as well as the e-Registrar for business registration with the Registrar – General’s Department (RGD).

These initiatives have contributed to Ghana has one of the most advanced tax and business regimes in Africa. The impact has been a significant increase in the domestic tax revenue collection processed through trips with ¢19.4bn in 2018, ¢15.4 bn in 2017 and ¢12bn in 2016.

This has been largely the result of the strategic geographical rollout of 69 tax offices currently using trips. The Registrar - Generals’ Department (RGD) also witnessed significant improvements in turnaround time for business registrations, revenue and online transactions through the deployment of the e-Registrar. It generated some GHS 65.5m in 2017 and GHS 92m in 2018 through the e-Registrar portal deployed by GCNet.

Commenting on the award, Dr. Omaboe noted ‘it is pleasing to know that the role of GCNet impacts positively on the overall clearance and turnaround time, reduction in the cost of clearance and also improvement in business competitiveness in the country. There is more to be done in the digitisation agenda in Ghana.”

Dr. Omaboe has previously been recognised as I.T Personality of the Year in the individual category at the 8^th GITTA event, and Best ICT and Trade Facilitation CEO of the Year at the 8th Ghana Entrepreneur and Corporate Executive Awards, for his contribution to transformation of business processes to boost competitiveness and make Ghana the preferred trading hub.

Speaking at the event, Deputy Minister for Transport, Hon. Nii Kwartei Titus-Glover commended award winners for their contribution to the development of the shipping and maritime industry.

He urged stakeholders in the industry to continue to support government’s efforts to ensuring smooth and transparent business at the various ports in the country.

The Chief Executive Officer of Ghana Shippers Authority, Benonita Bismarck urged stakeholders in the industry to continue to partner the Authority in its drive to build a robust shipping regime that offers numerous opportunities to players to contribute their quota to national development.