A storm of controversy is brewing over a recently approved digital customs tracking agreement between the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and Cyprus-registered Truedare Investments Limited. As Parliament learned of the deal, officials touted it as an “AI-driven” platform that would strengthen Ghana’s port operations at no extra cost to the state.
Yet, experts and industry insiders are raising red flags, arguing that the contract not only duplicates but also complicates functions already present in Ghana’s Integrated Customs Management System (ICUMS).
The Truedare platform was marketed as a bold solution to curb revenue leakages by enabling real-time tracking of container contents, improving valuation and classification, and enhancing both pre- and post-arrival audits. However, a closer technical review reveals that these capabilities are neither new nor missing from the existing ICUMS infrastructure. In fact, they represent modules and analytics tools already embedded within ICUMS, which have been operational nationwide since 2020.
ICUMS was established as Ghana’s flagship single-window customs platform, unifying previously fragmented systems and integrating all border agencies into a seamless workflow. It captures every step in the customs process, from manifests and declarations to risk profiling, inspections, and post-clearance audits. Analysts note that the kind of “AI-driven” audits promised by Truedare are typically built as analytical layers on top of robust, data-rich platforms like ICUMS—meaning the fundamentals already exist and can be activated through proper configuration and support.
Critics argue the real issue is not a technological shortfall, but a matter of policy consistency and effective use of existing tools. Introducing a parallel tracking and audit system, they warn, could undermine the single-window philosophy that made ICUMS a success, leading to duplicated dashboards, fragmented accountability, and operational inefficiencies at the ports.
Further scrutiny has been cast on Truedare Investments Limited itself. Corporate records reveal the company was only incorporated in December 2024, with a modest share capital of €1,545 and a declared focus on “general trade.” With no proven track record in large-scale customs technology, questions have surfaced about the level of due diligence conducted before integrating Truedare into Ghana’s critical customs architecture.
Financial transparency is another sticking point. Although officials maintain that the arrangement is cost-neutral for the state, analysts point to Ghana’s recent experience with performance-based digital contracts, warning that such deals often result in higher compliance costs for traders and ultimately affect consumers.
As Ghana seeks to rebuild fiscal credibility and investor confidence, the Truedare contract has become a litmus test for the government’s commitment to coherence, transparency, and value for money in its digital revenue reforms. Many argue that the way forward lies not in external bolt-ons, but in strengthening the analytics, governance, and enforcement capabilities already housed within ICUMS.
Source: Apexnewsgh.com
