The National Revenue Authority (NRA) has commenced engagements with sector heads and key stakeholders at the Jendema Border Crossing Point as preparations continue for the go-live of the ASYCUDA World system in customs operations.

The engagement is aimed at strengthening cooperation among security agencies and other stakeholders, supporting the transformation of customs operations, facilitating legitimate trade and enhancing revenue mobilisation for national development.

Speaking during the engagement on October 5, 2026, at the Jendema Border Crossing Point in Sorogbema Chiefdom, Pujehun District, the NRA Customs Manager at Jendema, Munjiru I. I. Kallon, said cooperation among security agencies and community leaders had remained strong since the NRA commenced operations at the border.

Munjiru I. I. Kallon explained that with the introduction of ASYCUDA World, three customs regimes—Import, Export and Transit—will be processed automatically, marking a significant shift from manual procedures towards a more efficient and technology-driven customs operation.

He said the engagement was an important step in informing security agencies and other stakeholders about the rollout of ASYCUDA World and securing their cooperation to ensure the smooth implementation of the system at the border.

Munjiru I. I. Kallon also highlighted several developments at the Jendema Border Crossing Point, including the recruitment of six local staff members in support of the host community, the expected deployment of other commercial banks to strengthen accountability and the deployment of the border post’s first female staff member, Mrs. Kumba S. Kallon.

He expressed appreciation to the Senior Management of the National Revenue Authority for providing a new vehicle and office facility to support operations at the border.

Munjiru I. I. Kallon reaffirmed the National Revenue Authority’s commitment to its core mandate and to building a legacy of modernisation and improved service delivery.

Giving a technical presentation on the system, Philip Dumbuya, Supervisor at the ASYCUDA Unit within the Customs Services Department, said ASYCUDA World supports infrastructure development by strengthening customs revenue collection, which remains a major source of government funding.

He added that trade data generated by ASYCUDA provides the Government with important information to analyse the types of goods entering the country and support informed economic planning and decision-making.

Philip Dumbuya disclosed that ASYCUDA is used in more than 90 countries. He explained that in Sierra Leone, ASYCUDA++ was introduced at the Queen Elizabeth II Quay in 2009 and went live in 2010 before being upgraded to the web-based ASYCUDA World system in 2017.

He said ASYCUDA World supports faster customs clearance, maintains an audit trail for between 10 and 15 years and incorporates robust security features to safeguard customs transactions and information.

Philip Dumbuya further noted that the Directorate of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) engaged professional hackers to conduct a security assessment of the system as part of efforts to test its security and resilience.

According to him, the system connects relevant agencies through dedicated modules and automatically routes information according to the functions and responsibilities of each agency. Its implementation requires software installation, role-based training and basic equipment such as printers and scanners for document processing.

He further explained that the ASYCUDA World dashboard displays the various stages of import and export processes, allowing users to monitor transactions and track the progress of customs procedures.

Philip Dumbuya said the system is designed to be efficient and accessible from different locations, while its data is supported by backup energy sources at server facilities. It also provides real-time information, supports revenue collection and records user activities, thereby enhancing transparency and accountability within customs operations.

Under ASYCUDA World, declarations are entered through a self-assessment process, which improves data accuracy compared with manual processing. The system also uses risk-based selection to identify consignments that require examination.

The planned go-live of ASYCUDA World at the Jendema Border Crossing Point is expected to further modernise customs operations, improve efficiency, facilitate legitimate trade and strengthen revenue mobilisation at one of Sierra Leone’s border crossing points. https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/archives/65210