Ghana Link Network Services Limited, operators of the Integrated Customs Management System (ICUMS), have received ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certification for their newly constructed Tier IV data centre.
The certification, which is valid until February 2029, affirms that the company’s information security management systems meet internationally recognised standards for confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data.
Mrs Cynthia Addy, Director of Human Resources, speaking on behalf of the Managing Director at a ceremony to present the certificate, described the certification as more than a symbolic achievement.
“Today is not just a certificate moment; it is a trust moment. Ghana Link supports critical national trade and revenue-related operations. In that environment, performance cannot depend on effort alone. It must be built on standards, clear controls, repeatable processes, strong governance, and measurable accountability,” she said.
She explained that ISO 27001 was globally regarded as the gold standard for information security management and that the certification followed independent international scrutiny of the company’s systems, processes, and personnel.
“They have verified that we do not just talk about security. We live it, we audit it, and we improve it daily,” she stated.
Mrs Addy assured stakeholders, including the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), customs house agents, trade associations, importers, exporters, shipping lines, airlines, and road transport companies, that their data remained secure.
“The data that powers Ghana’s trade through ICUMS is the lifeblood of our economy, and we treat it with the highest level of confidentiality, integrity, and availability,” she added.
Dr Albert Kwabena Ansah, Chief Technical Officer of Ghana Link, described the milestone as a declaration of resilience and disciplined governance.
“We constructed a Tier IV data centre engineered for fault tolerance and business continuity, eliminating single points of failure and ensuring operational stability for Ghana’s digital trade ecosystem,” he said.
Dr Ansah disclosed that the company executed a near-zero-downtime migration of critical ICUMS operations onto the new infrastructure without service disruption.
He noted that infrastructure alone was insufficient, explaining that the ISO certification process required structured risk management, strengthened asset governance, integrated business continuity planning, and independent external audits.
“Passing that audit affirmed that we operate at globally recognised standards of security and accountability,” he said.
Mrs Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, said the certification had direct implications for Ghana’s trade and industrial agenda.
“Our traders, manufacturers, and agribusiness succeed when the trading environment is predictable, efficient, and trustworthy,” she said.
Mrs Ofosu-Adjare explained that reliable customs systems reduced delays, lowered the cost of doing business, and enabled firms to plan with confidence.
“In plain terms, this means the data centre has clear and tested measures to protect information and keep the system secure and available. For a platform that supports daily trade and national revenue, this assurance is essential,” she stated.
The Minister added that strengthened controls and improved traceability under ICUMS would help curb undervaluation and unfair trade practices, thereby, protecting legitimate businesses and supporting local industry competitiveness.
Mr Mike Kamau, Managing Director of CERTI TRUST, the certification body, said ISO certification was a deliberate choice rather than a mandatory requirement.
“With ISO, you are never forced. It is a deliberate decision to invite an independent party to verify that what you claim is actually happening on the ground,” he said.
Mr Kamau explained that the core expectations of data centre stakeholders revolved around confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
“Are you able to assure your customers that today and tomorrow their data will be available? Can you assure them it will not be altered? Can you assure them that only authorised persons can access it? That is what this certification confirms,” he stated.
He added that beyond external validation, the certification process strengthened internal competencies within Ghana Link’s technical teams.