We’ll work with you – Minister assures GCNet

Minister of Communications Ursula Owusu-Ekuful has pledged the support of her Ministry to work with GCNet to ensure the smooth implementation of Total Revenue Integrated Processing Systems (TRIPS) and Ghana’s business automation project as part of eGhana project with the support of the World Bank.

Mrs. Owusu-Ekuful said the goal of her Ministry is to address all outstanding issues militating against the e-Ghana project to enhance transparency drive. She stressed on government’s commitment to use technology to facilitate government business to ensure Ghana improves its business competitiveness and the ease of doing business.

She added that it was critical for all stakeholders to work together to realise the revenue target set for 2017 so government could deliver on its promise to build a prosperous, self- reliant and vibrant economy that creates opportunities for all.

Mrs. Owusu- Ekuful made these comments when she received the General Manager of the Ghana Community Network Services Limited (GCNet), Alwin Hoegerle, at her office to discuss matters of mutual interest.

Mr. Hoegerle briefed the Minister on how GCNet was implementing the e-Registration component of the e-Ghana project with the Registrar General’s Department.

He said significant progress has been made including the full automation of business registration processes on the eRegistrar platform, rollout of the eRegistrar to the Registrar General Department (RGD) in Accra, Kumasi , Tamale and Takoradi, provision of public online services via the eRegistrar portal including – name search, name reservation, business registration, regulatory filing, change in particulars, conversions and ePayments.

Mr. Hoegerle also shared progress update on the implementation of the Total Revenue Integrated Processing System project being deployed by GCNet. He told the Minister that government realised more than GH¢12 billion in 2016 through TRIPS which accounted for 75 per cent of domestic tax revenue having migrated about 34 GRA tax offices onto the platform with about 30 more offices to be hooked onto the system.

The Deputy Ministers of the Ministry, George Andah and Vincent Odotei, also urged GCNet to work harder in deploying more innovative e-solutions that will facilitate the automation of government machinery to deliver better services to the citizenry.

They noted that GCNet managed a rich database which government can tap into and assured that government would leverage on GCNet’s experience especially in the design of the national identification project to ensure there is full maximisation and value for the country.

On his part, the Tema Branch & Transit Manager of GCNet, Jimmy Allotey, called for the establishment of revenue courts at the ports as part of the measures to address leakages in the revenue mobilisation chain. The GCNet team also used the opportunity to formally invite the Minister of Communications and her team to visit and acquaint themselves with the operational processes of the company.

GCNet is implementing the TRIPS and e-Registration components of the e-Ghana project through the National Information Technology Agency (NITA) under the Ministry of Communication with the beneficiary institutions being the Domestic Tax Revenue Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority and the Registrar General Department as well as its original mandate to provide a complete IT solution for GRA Customs, which has been ongoing for the past 15 years.

GCNet is also a founding member of the African organization, African Alliance for eCommerce (AACE), which seeks the rollout of Single Window systems in Africa and have been operating the Single Window in Ghana.

The visit was in line with the strategic direction of Executive Management of GCNet to deepen and sustain its relations with government through top-of-mind presence engagements in re-positioning as leader in the provision of e-solutions to government to foster trade development, improve ease of doing business and business competitiveness and enhance revenue mobilisation.