The Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has held a high-level stakeholder engagement with major shipping lines and logistics operators as part of efforts to strengthen the implementation of the Government’s 24-Hour Economy policy at the Tema Port.

The strategic meeting, held at the Tariff 1 Conference Room at Customs Headquarters in Accra, also focused on addressing operational concerns associated with the recent implementation of the Manifest Business Requirement under the Integrated Customs Management System (ICUMS).

Convened by the Commissioner of Customs, the engagement brought together representatives from some of the world’s leading shipping lines, including Maersk, MSC, CMA CGM, COSCO, PIL, Grimaldi, Hapag-Lloyd, and Hull Blyth.

Officials from Ghana Link Network Services, the Ship Owners Association of Ghana (SOAG), and senior Customs management were also in attendance.

Opening the meeting, the Commissioner emphasized the critical role Tema Port plays in Ghana’s economy and stressed the need for stronger collaboration among stakeholders to improve operational efficiency and trade facilitation.

He described the engagement as a partnership-driven exercise aimed at identifying challenges within the port ecosystem and developing practical solutions to support seamless 24-hour operations.

Discussions during the meeting revealed that key digital systems supporting port operations are already functioning on a 24-hour basis. Stakeholders noted that both the ICUMS clearance platform and the Ghana.gov payment system currently operate continuously, enabling importers, clearing agents, and shipping operators to process transactions and documentation around the clock.

Despite the progress made, participants acknowledged that full operational synchronization across the maritime and logistics chain is yet to be achieved. While the digital platforms remain active throughout the day and night, some shipping lines and service providers still rely on extended working hours and limited night staffing instead of fully integrated 24-hour operational structures.

A major concern raised during deliberations was the delay in financial transactions and document processing caused largely by late submissions from clearing agents. Stakeholders observed that although invoices are often available well before vessels arrive, many agents delay payments and documentation until peak daytime hours, creating avoidable congestion within the system.

To address the challenge, Customs management urged shipping lines to strengthen their night operations by deploying dedicated staff and partnering with multiple commercial banks to ensure uninterrupted payment processing.

The Commissioner also encouraged customs house agents to take advantage of early invoice availability to complete payments and documentation ahead of vessel arrivals.

The meeting further examined technical challenges associated with the Manifest Business Requirement, including consolidator name-matching inconsistencies, manifest amendments, transit cargo processing, and the manual capture of vehicle chassis numbers. Responding to concerns about amendment penalties, Customs management clarified that most penalties could be avoided through accurate and timely data submission at the initial stage.

As part of the way forward, the shipping lines committed to presenting practical proposals to support full 24-hour operational systems and improve continuous payment processing. Customs and Ghana Link were also tasked to implement immediate enhancements within ICUMS to improve consolidator mapping and operational efficiency, while a follow-up stakeholder engagement in Tema is expected to review manifest regulations and broader legal reforms within the port sector..