Ghana Link dismisses claims linking ICUMS to fuel shortages

Ghana Link Network Services Ltd. has refuted claims that the Integrated Customs Management System (ICUMS) is responsible for recent fuel supply disruptions reported by some Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs).

The response follows assertions by certain OMCs that they were unable to clear fuel at the ports due to challenges with the ICUMS platform.

State-owned GOIL PLC and private operator Star Oil Ghana had attributed the situation to technical difficulties with the system, which is used to process tax liabilities and facilitate the lifting of petroleum products from depots.

However, in a statement issued on March 9, 2026, Ghana Link Network Services Ltd. said allegations circulating in both traditional and social media suggesting that the ICUMS platform had been down since March 6 were “false, misleading, and wholly without basis.”

The claims were attributed to Star Oil Ghana, which had earlier indicated that some of its service stations were running low on fuel due to technical challenges with the ICUMS platform that allegedly prevented OMCs from lifting petroleum products from depots.

Ghana Link maintained that the platform remained fully operational throughout the period in question and had not experienced any outage as alleged.

The company added that transactions and stakeholder activities on the platform had continued without interruption.

Following internal monitoring and stakeholder engagement after becoming aware of the allegations, Ghana Link said it contacted the National Petroleum Authority to verify the situation.

According to the company, checks conducted indicated that the operational challenge cited was linked to the Enterprise Relational Database Management System of the NPA and not the ICUMS platform.

Ghana Link expressed disappointment over what it described as unsubstantiated allegations, saying the claims had the potential to misinform the public and undermine confidence in a key national trade facilitation system.

The company has therefore called on Star Oil Ghana to withdraw the statement and issue a public apology for what it described as the dissemination of false information.

Source: CitiNewsRoom