Single Window Systems
In the OIC Member States
44
Table 7: Ghana Single Window GCNet Services
Inventory of Business Processes / services
Request for Export and Import Authorizations, Licenses, Certificates and exemptions
Request for Customs Classification and Valuation Report (CCVR)
Submission and management of Cargo Manifest to Customs and other agencies including port authority
Electronic filing and submission of Custom Declaration and notification of release
Payment of Customs duties and taxes and fees for license and other processing fees
Application, issuance and termination of transit and warehouse bond
Creation and exchange of Delivery Order
Preparation of Road consignment document (CMR)
Notification of Vessel Arrival
Booking of transit truck assignment
Request movement goods from Port to ICD and other warehouse and confirm reception of goods
Source: Authors’ own compilation from OIC survey
GCNet ICT Architecture
The GCNet ICT Architecture is fully centralized and interconnection with the GCMS and the
Port System of the Tema Port Authority. Government agencies’ business processes are
integrated with end-to-end business processes integration.
The architecture three tiers based–web servers, application servers and common data storage.
For load balancing the high availability concept (clustering) and visualization is used. The
GCNet SW infrastructure consists of two mirrored sites with 98% availability of services. Data
warehouse and business intelligence is used for reporting and analysis services, covering both,
GCMS and GCMS.
At this stage, paper and digital processes co-exist as the digital signature is not used in the
GNSW system, although the legal framework for e-documents and signatures is in place since
2008. Customs validation and clearance are still paper based, and the customs declaration (Bill
of Entry) and all supporting documents must be presented in paper. The digital signature is
however used for system-to-system communication (GNSW, GCMS, commercial banks and
National Bank of Ghana – Treasury.
2.4 Practice: Czech Republic Single Window
The Czech SW is a secure platform for the exchange of information and supports
interconnectivity and interoperability between the traders, customs and agencies. It is
integrated with the Czech Customs System and the European Commission Directorate-General
for Taxation and Customs Union (DG TAXUD) IT Systems.