President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has praised the Integrated Customs Management System (ICUMS), for facilitating trade and helping government increase its revenue generation at the country’s ports.
The president, who made these remarks during the State of Nation Address in Parliament, said the system has survived the controversy that surrounded its introduction and has become very helpful to the nation’s revenue efforts.
He said: “ICUMS when it was introduced provoked a lot of controversy. At the moment, we are seeing the benefits. Indeed, Customs revenue, prior to the implementation of ICUMS, for the period June 2019 to May 2020, stood at GH¢11.25 billion.
He added: “Between June 2020, the start of ICUMS, and May 2021, teething challenges, ill-considered propaganda, and the impact of COVID-19 on global trade notwithstanding, customs revenue has increased by 27.6% to GH¢14.36 billion. Indeed, customs revenue for 2021 stood at GH¢16.08 billion, as opposed to GH¢12.03 billion in 2019 when ICUMS had not been implemented.”