A cross-section of the participants at the training session
The Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) says it will soon introduce the Pre-Arrival Assessment Reporting System (PAARS) for importers to boost government’s revenue this year.
PAARS, developed by GRA’s Customs Division with technical support from West Blue Ghana Limited, implementers of the Ghana Single Window Project, becomes operational by the first week of April this year.
It would allow importers to enter detailed descriptions of the items they are bringing into Ghana in order to save time and help boost government’s revenue.
This was made known on Monday in Accra at a PAARS enhancement training sessions organized by GRA and West Blue and held at the Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders (GIFF) for some importers.
The training sessions, also held in other parts of the country, are designed to equip users on the new functionalities introduced on the PAARS.
A recent review of the system highlighted a flaw in the way GCMS was processing the valuation data being transmitted.
With the supervision of Customs and Ministry of Finance, this has been resolved and revenue collection is expected to improve.
The GRA total tax revenue target for 2017 is estimated at GH¢34 billion.
Revenue Assistant Grade III, Obideabah Hector, who was one of the resource persons for the training exercise, told the media that the new system has incorporated the standard nature of packaging items from World Customs Organization (WCO).
The PAARS, he said, was currently on the trial stage and when introduced shall help to block revenue leakages.
By Melvin Tarlue
