SIGMAT – Connecting Corridors, Unlocking Futures

For years, the rhythm of Noah Evonlah’s life was dictated by paper. As a 36-year-old customs officer at the bustling Elubo border crossing between Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire, his days were a constant battle against towering stacks of documents, worn-out rubber stamps, and the palpable frustration of waiting drivers. The long, stagnant queues of trucks, sometimes stretching for kilometres, were a daily testament to a system at its breaking point.

This was the reality of trade in West Africa. Before the intervention supported by Germany through GIZ and the ECOWAS Commission, customs procedures were manual, fragmented, and disconnected. Officers like Noah had no advance information on the cargo heading their way. Each truck’s arrival triggered a slow, repetitive process of inspections and paperwork, creating bottlenecks that choked the arteries of regional commerce.

The consequences rippled across the economy and society. The delays inflated transport costs for businesses, and the cumbersome manual documentation created opportunities for errors and corruption. For many, the impact was even more direct. In the sweltering heat, perishable goods like tomatoes and fish would often spoil in the back of stationary trucks, a tragic loss of food and income for farmers and traders.

A new vision for West African trade was needed—one that could bridge these gaps. Through a strategic partnership, GIZ, on behalf of the German Government, and the ECOWAS Commission set out to build that bridge. The solution was the 'Système Interconnecté de Gestion des Marchandises en Transit, or SIGMAT'.

The goal was ambitious: to replace paper with data and delays with speed. The initiative was more than just software. It involved connecting ten ECOWAS Member States, plus Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, to a single, interconnected system. GIZ and its partners facilitated crucial technical discussions, provided essential IT infrastructure, including servers and an electronic hub in Lomé, and delivered comprehensive training to hundreds of customs officers to ensure the system was not only installed but also effectively adopted. 

Today, Noah Evonlah’s world is different. His desk is no longer buried under paper; instead, he sits confidently before a computer screen. When a truck arrives, the information has already preceded it. A single digital declaration, shared seamlessly across borders, has replaced the thick stacks of forms. A quick scan and a few clicks are all it takes. The process is swift, transparent, and predictable. 

The impact of this digital transformation is profound. At borders like Elubo, we aim to replace the endless queues by a smooth, constant flow of traffic. For businesses, this means faster transit times, lower transport costs, and more predictable access to markets, making them more competitive. For governments, the enhanced transparency and traceability would have significantly reduced fraud and boosted customs revenue, freeing up vital funds for public services. 

The benefits extend to every citizen. With less spoilage, more fresh and affordable food reaches markets in Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, and other ECOWAS member states. This streamlined trade ecosystem supports private sector development, creating jobs and fostering inclusive economic growth. 

Furthermore, the shift to a digital system represents a move toward greener customs. By reducing the time trucks spend idling in queues, SIGMAT cuts fuel consumption and the associated greenhouse gas emissions. The move away from paper-based processes also reduces waste and the environmental footprint of trade logistics. 

The success of SIGMAT, supported by partners including the European Union, the World Bank, the World Customs Organisation (WCO), and UNCTAD, is a powerful testament to transformation. It demonstrates how targeted technical cooperation and strong regional partnerships can dismantle long-standing barriers. But this is not the end of the journey. The vision for the future is to expand SIGMAT to all ECOWAS countries and upgrade it to a 2.0 version that will contain the Guarantee Management System, create an interface between SIGMAT and the e-Certificate of Origin (e-CO) system, and upgrade it to work hand in hand with other key trade tools, creating a more unified digital trade ecosystem in West Africa. 

For Noah, the change is more than just professional; it’s personal. It is a source of pride. Looking out from his post over the Tano River, he no longer sees a barrier between nations, but a digital bridge connecting the futures and fortunes of millions.