The Informer (Monrovia)
3 November 2009
Post war Liberia is making frantic efforts to catch up with the rest of the world-of computer technology-after wasting 14 years to brutal civil war, destruction and decadence.
Yesterday, November 2, 2009, the country took a "move forward step" in this direction, when the Bureau of Customs at the Ministry of Finance officially launched the Automated System of Customs Data (ASYCUDA).
"Today, Liberia has made a history by joining other countries of the world to practice e-governance through the launching of ASYCUDA program in Liberia," Mr. Humphrey Russell, the national program officer of ASYCUDA Liberia said during the official at One-Stop-Shop center at the Freeport Collectorate in Monrovia.
ASYCUDA is a software that computerizes the collection of data and detects frauds, and makes the clearing of good easy for business institutions and individuals involved with clearing goods at the port. The projected was initiated by the department of revenues at the Ministry of Finance six months ago.
Besides joining the comity of nations by launch of the ASYCUDA program, Mr. Russell said Liberia has also set another world record by being the only country so far in the world to begin using the soft ware just six months after it was initiated.
"No country in the world has been able to transform its customs system from manual to a computerized system [ASYCUDA] as Liberian has done in a space of six months," Mr. Russell proudly claimed and bragged.
The ASYCUDA project costs the government about US$1.5 million, but the dividends worth the investment, Finance Ministry officials have said. The African Development Bank is providing the fund through direct budgetary support to the Liberian government.
The ASYCUDA system is further intended to reduce customs clearance processes to facilitate trade and commerce, particularly importation and exportation of goods.
The system will use risk management principles to conduct customs examination and apply new business rules to manage declaration processing so as to minimize fraud and abuse of government revenue collection.
"This will also help to raise revenue to government which can be directed to meaningful programs of government aimed at promoting development and reducing poverty," Mr. Russell told The Informer in a pre-launch interview.
Mr. Russell said several individuals of the Customs department and port users, including business organizations, have been trained in the use of the system, which he described as "fast and efficient."
He said now that it has been officially launched at the Freeport of Monrovia Collectorate, the ASYCUDA program will eventually be spread to all parts of the country where customs activities are taking place.
He said the Roberta International Airport and the Liberia Petroleum Refining Corporation will shortly benefit from the software installation and use. The Port of Ganta and Bo-Waterside will later follow.
The ASYCUDA program demarcates the country into four regions for easy tax administration and the payment of custom duties. The four regions include: the Northwest Ganta collectorate, Southwest Bo-Waterside collectorate, Northwest Voinjama collectorate and the Southeast Buchanan collectorate.
Mr. Russell however warned that the use of ASYCUDA is not going to be all bread-and-butter thing. "We are just going into it; It's going to be hard along the way. The Computers will malfunction one day, and the system will go down, but we will work together," he noted, before turning the center over the Commissioner of Custom and Exercise, Madam Decontee King-Sackie, saying, "You gave me a manual system and I am giving you an automated system after six months."
Madam Sacking said the official launch of the program in Liberian was "the beginning of a long march ahead".
"This is the pilot phase that has been completed. This means that as of today anyone who wants the declaration will now do it through the computer [ASYCUDA program]."
She said people-businesses, instaurations and individuals-will have to go online to do all their processing and declarations on the ASYCIUDA website.
About nine business organizations, she disclosed, have already begun using the program, and more have applied. "ASYCUDA is now here, and it is here for the people," Madam Sackie noted, displaying the website of the program on one of the computers to the audience of port workers, business representatives and international partners.
Juliet Kaboha, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) ASYCUDA Customs Advisor said her organization and the Liberian government agreed in April for UNCTAD to assist in automating the Customs system of Liberia.
"Today, Liberian has joined other countries in the world that have automated custom systems...We look forward to working with you," Madam Kboha noted, commending all those who worked to make the program a success.
In an effort to robustly combat revenue frauds and other forms of financial malpractices in the country, the Ministry of Finance announced the new technology in July this year.
Speaking at a one-day ASYCUDA mobilization and awareness seminar in Monrovia on July 13, Deputy Finance Minister for Revenue Elfreda Stewart-Tamba said the technology will modernize the country's revenue generating capacity as well as help fight frauds at the Bureau of Customs and Excise.
According to Minister Tamba, the ASYCUDA project will cost the government about US$1.5 million, and noted that the dividends worth the investment.
The Deputy Finance Boss said the introduction and installation of the technology will require the Ministry of Finance to provide training for custom brokers and staff to ensure the efficient and effective use of the new technology.
"When this technology takes effect, there will be a change; clearing of goods will be easy and fast, and more goods will come on the Liberian market; this will in turn boost the country's economy", Mr. Russell told The Informer recently when the ASYCUDA projected donated computers to major business organizations in the country.
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