He said the initiative marked a transformational step in how the Authority operated and engaged with the trading and taxpaying community. 

Speaking at the launch in Accra, Mr Sarpong said the system signalled GRA’s strong commitment to modernisation, trade facilitation and building trust with stakeholders. 

The World Bank, through the Trade Facilitation Support Programme (TFSP), supported areas like legal and regulatory strengthening, digital systems development, capacity building, private sector engagement, peer learning, and knowledge exchange. 

The Advance Ruling System seeks to strengthen predictability and improve the trade environment, while providing traders with binding decisions from Customs before goods are shipped or arrive at the border. 

They cover tariff classification, Origin of Goods, reduce disputes, improve clearance times, lower compliance costs, and enhance transparency. 

The GRA Commissioner-General said Ghana was at a critical stage, with GRA tasked to mobilise GH¢230.1 billion in revenue for 2026 with the Customs Division alone expected to contribute GH¢67.54 billion towards the target. 

He emphasised that achieving those targets required not only increased effort but smarter approaches to revenue mobilisation. 

Global evidence showed revenue growth was driven more by improved compliance than strict enforcement. 

Mr Sarpong said compliance could only be enhanced when systems were fair, predictable and easy for taxpayers to use. 

The Advance Ruling System was designed to provide traders with certainty on how their goods would be assessed before arrival at ports, he noted. 

“This will reduce disputes, improve efficiency and promote consistency in customs decisions,” he added. 

The initiative, he highlighted, formed part of broader reforms within the Customs Division to modernise operations. 

These include the deployment of the Publican AI System to detect high-risk consignments and the continued use of the Integrated Customs Management System (ICUMS). 

He said the automation of advance rulings within ICUMS would ensure faster and more consistent service delivery across all entry points. 

The ability for traders to apply online and receive binding decisions within 90 days would enhance planning and investment confidence. 

Mr Sarpong assured the trading community of GRA’s commitment to fairness, integrity, responsiveness, service and teamwork in implementing the system. 

He commended the Customs Division, the Advance Ruling Committee, and stakeholders for their contributions to the initiative.