The New Voter Forum has launched a scathing critique of Ghana’s Integrated Customs Management System (ICUMS), alleging that the country’s international trade infrastructure has been captured by politically connected interests under the guise of digitization reforms.
Speaking at a press conference held at the International Press Center in Accra, Convener of the Forum, Mawudzo Korto, accused high-ranking political actors of enabling what he described as a “grand scheme of crony capitalism” that has compromised the integrity and efficiency of Ghana’s customs and port operations.
“The capture and commercialization of our international trade infrastructure under the guise of a digital revolution is not modernization—it is exploitation,” Korto said.
He added that ICUMS, which was rolled out in June 2020 after a contract with Ghana Link Network Services Limited in 2018, bypassed critical protocols and failed to meet conditions set by the Economic Management Team (EMT) at the time, then chaired by former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.
The Forum alleged that a key EMT meeting scheduled for February 25, 2020—to assess the system’s readiness—was abruptly canceled, allowing ICUMS to be implemented without the required independent stress tests or transparent audits. “This was not an oversight but a deliberate attempt to bypass due process for questionable motives,” Korto claimed.
He further stated that the system’s touted benefits have not materialized. Instead, ICUMS has allegedly been riddled with technical failures and inefficiencies. “Ghana Link’s own reports acknowledge frequent system downtimes,” he said, noting that the disruptions have undermined Ghana’s status as a trade hub in West Africa.
The Forum also raised concerns over the imposition of unauthorized fees, the suppression of dissent within trade associations, and the intimidation of frontline customs officers who speak out about systemic flaws.
According to Korto, “Officers who question the system face career stagnation. The masterminds behind this operation remain unaccountable, operating with impunity while controlling Ghana’s trade networks.”
Calling the situation a national security threat, the Forum presented a list of demands, including an independent audit of ICUMS by an international firm, full public disclosure of the contract, a parliamentary inquiry into its implementation, and the creation of an autonomous Trade Systems Regulatory Commission.
Failure to act on these demands, Korto warned, would confirm government complicity. “We must not allow Ghana’s economic lifeline to be drained for the benefit of a few corrupt individuals. The time to act is now.”
The New Voter Forum concluded by urging civil society, the media, industry players, and Parliament to intervene, warning that unchecked cronyism in the trade sector could spread to other areas of national governance.
