Single Window Systems
In the OIC Member States
38
Financial Model
The initial investment of 7 million US$ for the e-platform and the GCMS, was provided by the
private partner and in-kind contributions from the Government budget. Annual investments
costs are estimated to be around 3-4 million US$ for the GCMS and the Single Window.
GCNet Ltd. is a profit making company and sustains its operation solely through the fee collected
from end users. The amount and structure of the user fee structure is defined in the PPP contract
and is fixed at 0.4% of declared FOB value on import. Certain sensitive transactions (e.g.
petroleum imports, government and donor funded projects) are exempted from the fee payment
and no fees are collected for export-oriented transactions. There are no annual or other
subscription fees to be paid by the end users. The GCNet fee is calculated and collected together
with the Customs duties and taxes. In terms financial sustainability, the fees are sufficient to
“cover operational expenditure and to finance new investments for replacement software,
hardware, systems upgrades, and maintenance of systems” 36 and pay out dividends to the
shareholders since the third year of operations.
Human Resources
Currently, GCNet Ltd. employs approximately 200 permanent staff. The organizational structure
consists of four groups of staff: senior executives, officers, junior management and
administrative staff. The total number of employees in the IT Department is 80; approximately
half of the IT staff is involved in development of the i-transit, part of GCMS systems, and the
Ghana e-Government initiative37. GCNet has a mixed IT organizational structure. Agencies’ IT
departments are fully involved at all stages of the systems’ development, including business
process analysis, user and functional requirements, and software and hardware infrastructure.
The training of staff is a key consideration for retention of staff, in particular IT staff. The GCNet
Ltd. is certified according to ISO:9001 Quality Assurance and there is an appointed Quality
Assurance manager.
2.3.3. SW Strategic Orientation
The strategic objectives of GCNet are discussed and adopted in annual strategy meetings by the
board and senior management jointly with the objectives for the GCMS. The strategy is geared
towards delivering the performance results and objectives fixed in the PPP contract. Beyond
their contractual commitments, GCNet sees the Single Window development and operation as
36 ITC, Public-Private Partnership for Integrated Customs Services in Ghana, under
Accessed January 2017)
37Ghana e-Government Interoperability Framework under
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