Customs
ECOWAS Customs Chiefs meet to strengthen regional ties, improve revenue generation.

The Directorate of Customs Union and Taxation of the ECOWAS Commission Thursday converged on Accra, Ghana for its 6th meeting of Heads of Customs of ECOWAS member states to discuss the ECOWAS community levy and consolidate the ECOWAS customs union.
The main objective of the meeting was to examine and validate some community legislations that are meant to improve the collection and management of Community levy as well as secure revenue collection, enhance the fluidity of intra-community trade and strengthen the ECOWAS Customs union.
The discussion of the regional Customs egg heads centred on the Draft Supplementary Act laying down the conditions and modalities of application, monitoring and management of the Community levy, Draft Supplementary Act on ECOWAS Community Transit, Draft Regulation relating to the modalities for the functioning of the ECOWAS community transit guarantee mechanism, Draft Regulation relating to the additional modalities for the application and management of decisions, including advance rulings, relating to the implementation of Community Customs regulations, Draft Regulation relating to the determination of Community regime for customs duty reliefs in the ECOWAS Region and Draft Regulation amending regulation C/REG.18/12/16 of 18 December 2016 defining the list of categories of goods contained in the ECOWAS Tariff and Statistical Nomenclature as well as the adoption of the 2022 amendments of the Harmonized System nomenclature.
Others are Draft Regulation on the procedures for the recognition and certification of the origin of products from ECOWAS member states, Draft Regulation on the determination of the components of ex-factory price and the value of non-originating materials.
Col. Kwadwo Damoah (rtd), Commissioner,Ghana Customs, who chaired the meeting, welcomed all participants to Accra on behalf of the President of Ghana and Chair of ECOWAS Authority, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
He acknowledged with great delight, the high turnout of delegates despite the challenges faced by the Covid-19 pandemic.
He reemphasised the importance of tariffs in revenue mobilisation within the subregion as well as the obligation for Member States to go along with the World Customs Organisation (WCO) in implementation of the best practices in order to deliver world-class services to clients.
Col Damoah said the two top issues expected in the report which need urgent attention are the Community Levy and the Transit of goods and services across ECOWAS borders for trade facilitation .
“I thank you sincerely for your unwavering support in the implementation of the Protocol on the Community Levy.
” The Community Levy has significantly improved the revenue profile of ECOWAS and it contributes about 80% of the Community finances.
“This would not have been possible without your cooperation and support. We are, therefore, grateful”
“This meeting is historic in view of the number and relevance of the regulations presented for your consideration.
“These instruments are critical for the promotion of economic integration and development of our sub-region.
“They are the pillars upon which a solid economic union would be built. This cannot be achieved without your inputs.
“We, therefore, welcome your usual insights and recommendations which would help us to do better” she declared.
ECOWAS Commissioner for Trade, Customs and Free Movement, Mr. Konzi Tei, explained that the 6th meeting was held in a context marked by the persistence of the COVID-19 pandemic impacts which he said has slowed down world trade and the logistics chain of supplying goods to States.
He however praised the Customs Administrations of member-states for their resilience and effective mobilisation of public resources for their various Governments and ECOWAS through funds collection for the Community Levy.
“Furthermore, I would like to inform you that the process of the interconnection of customs administrations is continuing despite the COVID- 19 pandemic which has impacted and changed the world order.
With the operationalization of the Interconnected System for the Management of Goods in Transit (SIGMAT), he noted that seven States are already interconnected.
The Customs ECOWAS Commissioner disclosed that training on the functional specialties of SIGMAT have been organised for Ghana, Nigeria and The Gambia.
“The mobile version, as well as the rail version of SIGMAT, are in the process of being operationalised. Tests have already been carried out” he said.
The various supplementary Acts and regulations as recommended and validated from the meeting were presented to the ECOWAS Ministers of Finance on Friday who will review and approve them for submission to the Council of Ministers in December 2021.
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“I, however, know that the increment is backed by the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023. The increment is in the Act. That is where they brought it from” Emenike declared.
“The increment started today. NECOM will be meeting very soon to take a stance on the new development.”, the ANLCA high Chief stated.
“All the freight forwarding associations would have to come together on this matter” Oduntan thundered .
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