The Chairman of Parliament’s Trades and Industry Committee, Gabby Hottordze, has urged the government to strengthen support for the Integrated Customs Management System (ICUMS), praising its operators, Ghana Link Network Services Ltd., for their key role in boosting revenue mobilisation and facilitating trade.

During a working visit to Ghana Link and ICUMS, Mr. Hottordze emphasised the importance of supporting indigenous businesses.

“I think that is more reason why GRA seems to be performing as far as revenue mobilisation is concerned in this country. They are doing a great job for this country, and they need to be supported,” he noted.

He revealed that the committee will submit a report to the Speaker of Parliament detailing the company’s operations and challenges.

“We've seen them; our report will be submitted to the Speaker, and they will look at what they are doing. They mentioned a few challenges, but those ones I think we will liaise with the appropriate authorities and see how we could help them function,” he explained.

“Because if they are not being treated well, it may affect the good thing that we are also doing. ” Mr. Hottordze added.

He further emphasised the need to protect and promote local enterprises.

“My impression as an individual is that they are doing extremely well, and they need to be supported. This particular establishment must exist because it's doing a lot of good to Ghana from all indications, and we must all be seen to be supporting them. They must have everything that they need.

The most interesting thing is that it's a Ghanaian-owned business. Once it is an indigenous business, it must be protected to exist and to flourish. So we expect the government to do that and our report to be submitted for such actions to be initiated,” he stated.

Public Relations Manager of Ghana Link Network Services Ltd., Norvan Acquah-Hayford, also shed light on the company’s operations and its impact on trade efficiency in Ghana.

“As you are aware, this is a company that handles the platform that Customs uses for both import and export in this country,” he said.

According to him, the Integrated Customs Management System (ICUMS) allows for seamless, end-to-end clearance of goods.

He outlined the company’s achievements since launching in June 2020.

“And we've been in operation; we went live—that was in June 2020, and we've been in operation till now. It's the only company that helps, and today you would know that the revenues, as far as customs revenues is concerned, has gone up exponentially,” Mr. Acquah-Hayford disclosed.

He further indicated that their system has helped to reduce the cost of doing business in Ghana.

“We are able to help reduce the cost of doing business in this country. Transshipments in terms of goods that move from, Ghana to Burkina Faso to Mali to all those places. It is our system that is being used,” he mentioned.

Touching on technology, he said the company employs advanced systems to ensure smooth operations.

“We have e-tracking systems, scanners placed at vantage points within the ecosystem, water trade ecosystem that is being used to deal with these things,” Mr. Acquah-Hayford elaborated.

He also expressed appreciation for Parliament’s recognition of their efforts.

“And of course, the members of parliament, that is, the chairman of the committee and Ranking, have said it all. I cannot blow my own horn. You've heard what they have said, what we do, and how the committee hopes to help us to be able to move beyond the shores of this country,” he observed.

Looking ahead, Mr. Acquah-Hayford revealed plans to build a Tier Four data centre, describing it as “one of the best across the world.”

“Well, when it comes to future upgrades that we are doing, currently we are building a tier four data center in this country, one of the best across the world. That will give you a lot of redundancy, that, you know, when it comes to data, we'll be able to hold data in this country,” he indicated.

He assured that the company remains committed to data security and compliance.

“We are properly certified by the data protection commission because all the information that we're using is a web-based system. It is data that people are putting in, moving it from one end to another,” he noted.

He expressed optimism about the coming upgrade.

“And we are hoping that in some few weeks, this new data center will come live and the system will be better than it is today,” he added.