Vacancy: Training Consultant - Custom Tariff and Classification

Company Profile

Nathan, a Cadmus Company is a leading provider of analytic and economic consultancy services worldwide. In the past decade, we have implemented more than 120 projects in more than 50 countries leveraging our global presence in Washington DC, London, and India. From improved transparency and deeper stakeholder engagement to more effective policies and more resilient businesses, we deliver results that impact economic growth, human development, and poverty reduction. We are passionate about applying our deep analytical expertise and advanced proprietary tools to generate economic solutions tailored to our clients’ unique challenges.  Nathan focuses on a range of economic development subject matter areas including Trade & Logistics; Economic Policy & Governance; Private Sector Development; Women’s Economic Empowerment; and Financial Solutions. 

Job Description

Background

The Feed the Future Ghana Trade and Investment (GTI) Activity aims to improve the enabling environment for Ghana’s economic growth by (1) facilitating trade (2) improving and developing product standards; (3) catalyzing investments in private enterprises related to high-value commercial crops; (4) promoting job creation, particularly among women and youth; (5) promoting economic diversification; and (6) increasing foreign exchange revenues from high-value export crops. GTI will facilitate investing in firms that trade goods across borders, spur innovation, and build the capacity of the entire trade sector.  To support trade facilitation, GTI seeks to identify and tackle time-in-trade costs through robust and integrated risk management systems, streamlined clearance procedures, and improved policy formulation through public-private dialogue.

In 2023, GTI provided technical and financial assistance to Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA)-Customs which enabled the Customs Division to conduct Ghana’s first Time Release Study (TRS) as a baseline study to identify bottlenecks that impede efficient clearance and release processes at ports and borders. Specifically, the study sought, amongst others, to: (i) measure the average time from arrival to release of goods from selected customs clearance offices (Tema Seaport, Kotoka International Airport (KIA), Aflao Customs Border Post, and Paga Customs Border Post); (ii)  measure the performance of trade facilitation processes of Customs, Other Government Agencies (OGAs) and Private Sector Operators involved in the clearance and release of goods; and (iii) identify areas to improve clearance processes and enhance facilitation to reduce time and cost to trade.

Among the key findings and recommendations from the study relate to challenges faced by GRA-Customs in the processing of customs Bill of Entries (BoEs). Currently, the Customs Technical Services Bureau (CTSB) is the unit that is mandated to determine customs Classification, Valuation, and Determination of origin of all goods (imports, export, and transit goods) to be cleared at all the 16 customs stations in Ghana. The centralization of BoEs within the CTSB is meant to ensure uniformity, fairness, and certainty in the assessment of duty, which is consistent with the theory of taxation which seeks to avoid discrimination (conforms to basic tenets of taxation). However, the study identified that the centralization of BOEs processing within CTSB is fraught with delays and recommends, amongst others, the need to decentralize BoE processing. This calls for the need to provide capacity building to selected customs officers from the 13 customs stations (outside Tema Port, Kotoka International Airport, and the headquarters) to equip them with both theoretical and practical knowledge and skills in the determination of customs classification, valuation and origin of goods required for the processing of BoEs. This is expected to reduce the workload on the CTSB at the Customs headquarters, facilitate a faster turn-around time in the processing of BOEs, and, in turn, reduce the clearance time for imports, exports, and transit goods.

The report also stressed the need for education/awareness creation for the private sector freight forwarders and traders (importers and exporters) on the need to avoid wrong classification and valuation of goods that tend to attract queries that cause delays in customs clearance.

Position Summary

 GTI is seeking a short-term local consultant (STTA) to work with the GRA-Customs Technical Services Bureau (CTSB) to design and train selected GRA-Customs officers from the 13 out-stations in customs classification to process BOEs at the point of entry. The consultant will collaborate with GRA-Customs and GTI, in addition to a designated consultant on customs valuation, to deliver education and awareness creation for private sector freight forwarders, importers, and exporters to enable them to comply with the requirement of ensuring the correct classification of goods for customs clearance.

Classifying products correctly on Certificate of Origin (CoO) was one of the recommendations made by the Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GNCCI) during Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs) performance review workshop held with the Ministry of Trade and Industry in March 2024. As issuers of CoO in Ghana, the consultant would also be required to train the staff of the GNCCI to ensure that products are classified correctly on CoOs.

Key Responsibilities and Tasks

 Key responsibilities and tasks to be performed include but are not limited to the following:

• Work closely with the Head of the GRA-Customs Technical Services Bureau and other key officials to deliver training on customs tariff and classification for BoE at the point of entry for an estimated 100 GRA-Customs officers, particularly those officers from 13 customs outstations.


• As needed, develop training materials, including presentations, case studies, and practical exercises, to engage participants effectively.


• Conduct interactive and participatory training sessions involving the use of adult learning techniques to ensure maximum understanding and retention of materials presented.


• Incorporate simulations to enhance the learning experience and provide practical insights.


• Develop and administer pre-test and post-test as assessment tools to measure the effectiveness of the training and ensure that learning objectives, including improved proficiency in customs tariff and classification are met.


• Develop training materials based on experience and interactions with private sector freight forwarders and clearing agents’ associations, key importers, and exporters associations and deliver education and awareness creation to these stakeholders to improve their compliance with classification of goods for clearance. These should also aim at helping the private sector operators to minimize the incidence of common errors that create delays in clearance of goods.


• Prepare reports detailing the training activities, participant performance, and any recommendations for improvements.


• Monitor training outcomes and collaborate with GRA-Customs and GTI to measure the impact on the time taken for officers to conduct classification and valuation in comparison to the TRS baseline.

The training should focus on developing the competencies that customs officers need to deal with all aspects of tariff and classification of goods, including HS code determination.  It is also to improve understanding of classification among freight forwarders, private sector traders, and business associations.

Key technical components of the training may include the following, among others:

1. Understanding Tariffs and Classification:
   
   
   
   
   • Participants learn about the role of tariffs in international trade and their impact on import and export transactions.
   
   
   • They explore the concept of tariff codes and how they are used to categorize goods.
   
   
   
   


2. Harmonized System (HS):
   
   
   
   • The structure of the HS code, including sections, chapters, headings, and subheadings in line with the 2022 Edition of the ECOWAS Common External Tariff (CET).
   
   
   
   


3. Principles of Classification:
   
   
   
   • The principles and guidelines for correctly classifying goods.
   
   
   • Essential factors such as material composition, function, and usage that influence classification decisions.
   
   
   
   

Deliverables

• Inception report with an implementation plan.


• Training materials for the GRA-Customers Officers and materials for the freight forwarders, traders, and associations, such as PowerPoint presentations, case studies of instances where misclassifications resulted in delays, practical exercises, and assessment questions.


• Conduct classification training workshops for an estimated 100 Customs Officers from 13 customs collection stations, and an estimated 200 freight forwarders/clearing agents and staff of GNCCI based on agreed areas and schedules.  


• Progress report after completing training for GRA-Customs officers and the private sector (freight forwarders, traders, and associations).


• Final report detailing the training activities and submit recommendations as needed.


• Report that measures the impact on the time taken for officers to conduct classification and valuation in comparison to the TRS baseline.

Level of Effort

The expected Level of Effort (LOE) of this assignment is 87 days for all tasks. The activity is proposed to take place between June and October 2024 with the commencement and completion dates to be agreed upon between GTI and the consultant.

Required Skills or Experience

• A master’s degree in international trade, law, economics, development studies, business administration, international marketing, or a related field. A bachelor’s degree with more than 10 years of experience in a relevant field would be acceptable.


• Five to ten years with knowledge and experience in customs law and operations including customs classification and documentary requirements for clearance of goods.


• Have hands-on experience in conducting classification duties.


• Experience in conducting short course training and delivering agreed outputs on time.


• Good team management capacity and excellent verbal and written communication in English are required.


• Good drafting skills and familiarity with IT Software tools such as Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, etc.