New Voter Forum demands termination of Ghana Link contract over trade system concerns

The New Voter Forum, a political advocacy group aligned with the National Democratic Congress (NDC), is calling for the immediate cancellation of the government’s contract with Ghana Link Network Services Limited, citing serious concerns over transparency, performance, and national economic risk.

At the centre of the group’s concerns is the Integrated Customs Management System (ICUMS), operated by Ghana Link, as part of a contract with the Ministry of Trade and Industry.

Conqueror Mawudzo Korto, Convener of the New Voter Forum, alleges that the platform has not only failed to deliver on its core mandate but has also undermined Ghana’s competitiveness as a trade and logistics hub in the West African sub-region.

“We believe the contract with Ghana Link Network Services must be terminated without delay,” Korto said. “The ICUMS platform has proven to be inefficient and unreliable, and its continued use is eroding the credibility of Ghana’s trade infrastructure.”

Mawudzo Korto stressed the need for an immediate, independent audit of the contract, arguing that the system’s failures have led to financial losses and logistical bottlenecks that threaten to derail the country’s economic prospects.

“The capture of Ghana’s trade system equates to the hijacking of the nation’s future,” he declared. “We cannot afford to entrust such a critical national function to a system that lacks accountability and performance.”

The New Voter Forum is now rallying civil society organizations, trade and industry stakeholders, the media, and Members of Parliament to take up the matter urgently.

According to Korto, silence or inaction at this point would amount to complicity in a growing governance failure.

“This is not just about a contract it’s about national sovereignty, transparency, and the economic integrity of Ghana,” Korto said.

“We expect Parliament to investigate, we urge the media to scrutinize, and we call on civil society to speak up before the damage becomes irreversible.”

The group’s call comes against a backdrop of increasing public concern over government contracts and the management of strategic national systems.

With questions mounting over the operational efficiency and value-for-money of major public sector deals, the New Voter Forum’s demands add to growing pressure on the Ministry of Trade to review its partnerships and uphold accountability.

Mawudzo Korto concluded by urging President John Dramani Mahama’s incoming administration to prioritize reforms in public procurement and digital systems governance if elected, warning that “Ghana’s economic independence cannot be mortgaged to poorly executed private contracts.”