Ghana Revenue Authority opens e-zones payment centres

Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), as part of the Ghana National Single Window Project, has established electronic payment zones at some major ports in the country.

The e-zone facilities at Kotoka International Airport and the Tema Port is expected to facilitate payment of port charges and other services by exporters to the Authority, making it more flexible for shippers and other stakeholders.

There are plans to extend the facility to the Takoradi Port and other border entries soon.

Speaking at the inauguration of the facility at the Kotoka International Airport, the Commissioner-General of the GRA, George Blankson said the creation of E-Zone centres at the ports is to serve as a one-stop-shop for all exporters and importers.

He said it was part of measures under the GNSW project to synchronise operations at the ports.

With the operations of the centres, exporters and importers could access information and transact businesses in an easy and convenient manner.

A Deputy Minister of Finance, Mrs Mona Quartey said the GNSW project had started yielding positive results following the successful implementation of the Pre-Arrival Assessment Reporting System (PAARS).

The PAARS is a modernised system that has been developed by the Customs Division of GRA as part of the implementation of the GNSW project to enhance revenue mobilisation, improve border security and customs clearance, overcome duplication across regulatory agencies and promote trade facilitation.

The Deputy Minister of Trade, Murtala Mohammed said the single window was the surest way to reduce the cost and time of doing business at the ports.

He said the single window was not an event but a process and that with time problems at the ports would be reduced to the barest minimum.

The Chief Executive Officer of West Blue Consulting, Madam Valentina Mintah said the GNSW reforms had led to enhancing business-to-business, government-to-government, and country-to-country trade facilitations.

The GNSW project was initiated on 1st September 2015 by the Government to enhance the country’s trade and economic development and secure and increase government revenue.