(Accra-Ghana, 28-30 July 2014)

A WCO mission to engage the Customs Division of Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) to pursue its reform and modernization programme based on the WCO Capacity Building approach was conducted in Accra from 28-30 July 2014. The mission was at the instance of the Commissioner Customs Division, Mr. Wallace Akondor, to enable the GRA Customs modernization programme derive full benefits of the WCO Capacity Building programmes.

Over 40 senior and middle level managers from mainly the Customs Division of GRA were engaged by the WCO mission in fruitful dialogues and presentations, which promoted the Capacity Building approach and the tools and standards developed and used by the WCO to support Customs reform. Significantly, the key challenges and shortfalls of the last Customs reform cycle under the GRA Strategic Plan 2012-2014 were identified and discussed with the participants to address the way forward. The opportunity also was used to assess the senior-middle management participants’ engagement with WCO issues and programs.

It was agreed, as an outcome of the mission that the WCO would further assist GRA Customs Division to elaborate a conceived strategic reform plan for 2015-2018, in line with WCO policies and standards.