The World Customs Organisation (WCO) has held its 10th regional conference of directors general of Customs Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) for West and Central Africa on the theme, "Security and Trade Facilitation- A challenge for Customs Administrations in the 21st Century" in Accra.

The three-day conference brought together delegates from 22 West and Central African countries and the private sector.

Issues discussed at the conference were focused on the integrity in the relationship between Customs administration and the private sector, security and facilitation of trade supply chain, facilitation of transit of goods and the automation of Ghana Customs management system.

In his welcome address, the Commissioner of Ghana CEPS Brigadier General Richardson Baiden noted that the primary role of customs as revenue collectors has been extended to include the combating of commercial fraud while facilitating international trade to obtain a sound and good environment for Africa trade.

Minister of Harbours, Ports and Railways, Prof. Ameyaw-Akumfi, on behalf of the vice president called on the need for WCO to set up appropriate strategies that will ensure the collaboration of the private sector and the national government in the commodity industry to promote trade and investment, protect logistic supply chain and effective service delivery.

He said such policies should take cognisance of the specific circumstances of individual countries and create a favourable platform for mobilising global partnership that easily responds to the needs and aspirations of member countries.

Delegates at the conference expressed their willingness of cooperating with the private sector to ensure effective service delivery. Improvements at the various CEPS operational sectors were also discussed by the delegates.

In Ghana, the CEPS operational sectors have tremendously been improved as a result of the introduction of Ghana Community Network (GCNet), and the Ghana Customs Management System (GCMS).

The Ghana CEPS now has the access to an electronic data system that offers the platform to automate most of the clearance processes at entry points.

The system has been installed at the Kotoka International Airport, the Tema and Takoradi ports and the Aflao border.

The installation of X- ray scanners at the country's ports has also reduced physical examination of containerised cargo.

Among other improvements are the green and red channels to streamline and facilitate the processing of passengers through the nation's national airport.