Some of the leaders of the New Voter Forum
Ghana’s international trade infrastructure is at risk of systemic collapse due to severe governance failures, institutional complicity, and unchecked commercialization, according to the New Voter Forum, a civic pressure group.
At the center of their concern is the Integrated Customs Management System (ICUMS), a trade facilitation platform launched in 2020.
The group argues that ICUMS, initially hailed as a digital breakthrough, has instead devolved into a tool for inefficiency and secrecy.
The New Voter Forum detailed how the ICUMS contract—signed in 2018 with Ghana Link Network Services—allegedly bypassed critical oversight mechanisms outlined by the Economic Management Team (EMT) under the previous government.
“ICUMS was launched in defiance of internal safeguards. This wasn’t just a process failure—it was a collapse of institutional duty,” said Charles OB, a convener of the group, speaking to the media on May 27, 2025.
“We are now facing the consequences of that silence and neglect.”
According to the Forum, ICUMS is plagued by frequent downtimes, undermining Ghana’s position as a regional logistics hub.
The group argued that these operational failures are not merely technical issues but constitute a direct threat to national security.
The New Voter Forum is calling for urgent corrective measures, including:
An independent international audit of the ICUMS system;
Full disclosure of the ICUMS contract, service agreements, and fee structures;
A parliamentary inquiry into the contract’s origin, performance, and economic impact;
The creation of an independent Trade Systems Regulatory Commission to monitor digital trade infrastructure;
An immediate end to politically driven profiteering within port operations.
They further warned that failure to act would not only confirm government complicity but also entrench corruption across other state systems.
“We must act decisively to restore accountability. This isn’t about trade alone—it’s about national sovereignty. If we do not reclaim the integrity of our ports now, we risk losing control of our economy altogether,” they stated.
The Forum urged civil society, Parliament, the media, and citizens to rise above political allegiances and demand reform, warning that “complacency today will only embolden further capture of state systems—even under leaders who pledge anti-corruption reforms.”
AM/