Lomé, 15-19 October 2012

In October 2012, a WCO team conducted a third mission to Togo Customs as part of the “Performance contracts” project supported by the World Bank (Trade Facilitation Facility).  The performance measurement project uses data extracted from Togo Customs’ clearance system (ASYCUDA).  The system is queried to produce specific indicators. The objective of the mission was to evaluate the impact of the measures taken since the second WCO mission (November 2011), to develop additional indicators, and to assist the IT team with the technical management of a performance measurement policy.

Through the analysis of the data extracted, the WCO mission was encouraged to find out that thanks to some minor changes to procedures from a logistical perspective, considerable results had been achieved.  By way of example, a large portion of the manifests is lodged in the system within the time limit, which in turn allows brokers to lodge their Customs declaration in ASYCUDA at an earlier stage. Clearance of transit manifests has improved on account of a new procedure which is automated through ASYCUDA. The share of declarations which were not treated by Customs officers within the month they were registered has decreased.  The same is true of the share of declarations which were not paid within the month they were assessed.  These results are due to the regular dissemination of individual indicators and to the action taken by Management.

Togo Customs is committed to implementing individual performance contracts with frontline inspectors at Lomé Port in early 2013, which will be the next phase of the project.