The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has denied reports by the media that the recently deployed Integrated Customs Management System (ICUMS) at the country’s points of entry has resulted in revenue loses for the country.
In a statement issued on Monday, the GRA, stated that the numerous media reportage of ICUMS ‘causing’ revenue losses at the country’s land and sea borders, particularly the Tema collection was ‘completely misleading and does not represent the facts on the ground.’
According to GRA, monthly average revenue collection pre-COVID-19 and during Covid-19 are GH¢942 million and GH¢574.8 million respectively.
It argued that the GH¢574.8 revenue mobilization figure compared to end-June revenue mobilization figure of GH¢554 million at the Tema Collection point does not show significant differences in revenue mobilization hence, ICUMS cannot be said to be the cause of the revenue shortfalls as the media seem to suggest.
The cause of revenue shortfalls, the GRA further stated, was due to the border closure and restrictions placed on movement of persons resulting in a slowdown in port related activities due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
It said the Authority was focused on its core mandate of mobilising revenue for national development and that it remained committed to constantly monitoring revenue performance at the ports whilst making efforts to resolve all initial challenges in the deployment of the ICUMS.
