We will work with you – Communications Minister assures GCNet
The Minister of Communications, Mrs Ursula Owusu-Ekuful has pledged the support of her Ministry to work with GCNet to ensure the smooth implementation of Total Revenue Integrated Processing Systems (TRIPS) and Ghana’s business automation project.
The projects are part of e-Ghana project being implemented with the support of the World Bank.
Mrs Owusu-Ekuful said the goal of her Ministry was to address all outstanding issues mitigating against the e-Ghana project to enhance transparency drive.
She underscored government’s commitment to use technology to facilitate government business to ensure Ghana improved its business competitiveness and create an effective environment of doing business in the country.
She added that it was critical for all stakeholders to work together to realise the revenue target set for 2017 so government could deliver on its promise to build a prosperous, self- reliant and vibrant economy that created opportunities for all.
Mrs Owusu- Ekuful made these comments when she received the General Manager of the Ghana Community Network Services Limited (GCNet), Mr Alwin Hoegerle at her office to discuss matters of mutual interest.
Mr Alwin Hoegerle told the Minister that GCNet was implementing the e-Registration component of the e-Ghana project with the Registrar General’s Department.
He said significant progress had been made, including the full automation of business registration processes on the e-Registrar platform, rollout of the e-Registrar to the Registrar General Department (RGD) in Accra, Kumasi, Tamale and Takoradi, provision of public online services via the e-Registrar portal including – name search, name reservation, business registration, regulatory filing, change in particulars, conversions and e-Payments.
Mr Hoegerle also shared progress update on the implementation of the Total Revenue Integrated Processing System project being deployed by GCNet.
He told the Minister that Government realised more than ¢12 billion in 2016 through TRIPS which accounted for 75 per cent of domestic tax revenue having migrated about 34 GRA tax offices onto the platform with about 30 more offices to be hooked onto the system.
The Deputy Ministers of Communication Mr George Andah and Mr Vincent Odotei also urged GCNet to work harder in deploying more innovative e-solutions that would facilitate the automation of government machinery to deliver better services to the citizenry.
They noted that GCNet managed a rich database which government could tap into and assured that government would leverage on GCNet’s experience especially in the design of the national identification project to ensure there is full maximisation and value for the country.
On his part, the Tema Branch and Transit Manager of GCNet, Mr Jimmy Allotey called for the establishment of revenue courts at the ports as part of the measures to address leakages in the revenue mobilisation chain.
The GCNet team also used the opportunity to formally invite the Minister of Communications and her team to visit and acquaint themselves with the operational processes of the company.
GCNet is implementing the TRIPS and e-Registration components of the e-Ghana project through the National Information Technology Agency (NITA), under the Ministry of Communication with the beneficiary institutions being the Domestic Tax Revenue Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority and the Registrar General Department as well as its original mandate to provide a complete IT solution for GRA Customs which has been on-going for the past 15 years.
GCNet is also a founding member of the African organisation, African Alliance for e-Commerce (AACE), that seeks the roll out of Single Window systems in Africa and have been operating the Single Window in Ghana.
The visit was in line with the strategic direction of Executive Management of GCNet to deepen and sustain its relations with government through top of mind presence engagements in re-positioning as leader in the provision of e-solutions to government to foster trade development, improve ease of doing business and business competitiveness and enhance revenue mobilisation.
Source: GNA