The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has registered more than 10,000 importers under the Ghana Trade Hub Mobile App, an online trade information exchange and clearance process introduced by the government to make trading at the country’s ports easier.
The app, developed by Westblue Consulting Ghana Limited, one of the Information Technology (IT) firms, is meant to track imports into Ghana and also make it possible for the importer to know the estimated payable duty.
The GTH App was introduced in 2018.
A customs trainer at the Customs office of the GRA, Mr Hector Obideabah, made this known at a stakeholder engagement on the new GTH portal in Accra yesterday.
The event was to create the platform for the media and other stakeholders to understand the new app and how it is being operated in the country.
Explaining how the GTH app worked, Mr Obideabah said the free mobile software had since 2018, recorded more than 500,000 hits, with a lot of traffic on the app.
He said the software application was another triumph in the paperless ports and trade facilitation campaign which sought to specifically reduce the cost and time of doing business at the ports.
“It makes it very easy and simple for importers to track the status, movement and location of their expected consignment, be they general goods or vehicles; and also to have foreknowledge as to the amount of duties that will be charged on such imports before clearance,” Mr Obideabah said.
He explained that stakeholders within the trade and imports sector could now check such information in the comfort of their homes or from anywhere in the world, without having to be physically present at the port.
Since its introduction, Mr Obideabah said the GTH app had been largely embraced by importers, describing it as a novelty and brilliant innovation in the trade and imports fraternity.
About the app
He said the GTH served as a credible one-stop-shop for all trade information exchange and clearance processes.
“In an attempt to transform Ghana’s ports to Smart Ports and strengthen Ghana’s economic competitiveness, there is automation of the Certification of Origin for export; cancellation of the importer registration process; and regulatory agencies for physical examination reduced from 16 to three”, Mr Obideabah said.
He said the integrated risk management system had reduced physical inspections of goods at the ports by 50 per cent.
GRA calls
The Assistant Commissioner in charge of Communication and Public Affairs, Mr Kwasi Bobie-Ansah, appealed to the media to help the institution explain how effective the new GTH App was relevant to importers and the public.
He also stressed the need for the public to register with the GRA and obtain their Tax Identification Number (TIN) since it was a pre-requisite in accessing the new GTH App.
Mr Bobie-Ansah said GRA was ready and willing to explain and offer further information concerning the new app and its related operations.
Source: Daily Graphic
| Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. |
