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 System Architecture

UNECE UN/CEFACT 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:  Ministry of Finance  Ministry of Trade and Industry  Ship Owners And Agents Association  Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders  Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority  Narcotics Control Board  Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority  Private Freight Terminals  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 right capabilities 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