A delegation from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament has concluded a four-day oversight mission to Liberia, urging the expansion of the Interconnected System for the Management of Goods in Transit (SIGMAT) across West Africa. The digital customs platform is seen as crucial for facilitating trade, enhancing transparency, and reducing delays in the movement of goods. During their visit, the delegation assessed SIGMAT's implementation, benefits, and challenges in Liberia.
The ECOWAS parliamentary delegation, led by Amdiatta Diaby of Senegal, identified poor road infrastructure, limited connectivity, and the need for additional training as key challenges affecting SIGMAT's operations. Despite these challenges, Diaby emphasized that SIGMAT has excelled in the customs sector, accelerating customs operations, improving goods tracking, and providing better access to shipment information. The delegation believes the platform should be extended throughout the ECOWAS region to improve customs efficiency.
Seno Soklingi of Togo, vice chair of the delegation, commended Liberia for progressively implementing SIGMAT, noting that the country can benefit from the experiences of other ECOWAS member states where the system is more fully integrated. Soklingi cited Togo and Benin as examples of countries where SIGMAT has been successfully integrated into customs operations. He encouraged Liberia to continue improving the system and urged other countries, including Sierra Leone and Guinea, to advance implementation.
Maimuna Cessay of The Gambia, a member of the ECOWAS Parliament's Committee on Social Affairs, called for SIGMAT's expansion beyond the countries currently implementing it. Cessay stressed that stronger regional cooperation and effective monitoring are necessary to improve customs operations and address potential revenue leakages. She also highlighted the importance of inspection scanners and technological tools in strengthening oversight and preventing exploitation of customs procedure weaknesses.
Atty. William L. Buku, Assistant Commissioner for Customs Policy at the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA), said the ECOWAS Parliament's visit was part of its oversight responsibility to assess regional program implementation. Buku explained that SIGMAT harmonizes customs and transit procedures among member states, allowing authorities to exchange information and coordinate goods movement across borders. He described the platform as a crucial component of regional economic integration.
Buku emphasized that digitalization is a key tool against corruption, promoting transparency, improving data sharing accuracy, and reducing unnecessary human intervention in customs procedures. He noted that faster processing and clearance of goods can help reduce transportation costs for traders, as prolonged delays often increase costs. However, Buku acknowledged that inadequate road infrastructure and weak connectivity remain significant challenges to efficient goods movement across the subregion.
The ECOWAS parliamentary delegation expressed appreciation to the Liberian government and the LRA for their cooperation during the mission. They encouraged continued investment in digital customs systems and stronger regional coordination to facilitate trade and advance economic integration across West Africa. The delegation's recommendations will be considered by the ECOWAS Parliament to support efforts to extend SIGMAT to more member states.
Key points
- The ECOWAS Parliament delegation calls for the expansion of SIGMAT across West Africa to improve trade and reduce delays.
- Poor road infrastructure and limited connectivity are major challenges to SIGMAT's efficient operation across the region.
- The digital customs platform has been successfully implemented in countries such as Liberia, Sierra Leone, Côte d'Ivoire, and Guinea.
