The government has banned the land transit of several imported goods through Ghana’s borders as part of efforts to strengthen customs controls and reduce revenue leakages.
Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson issued the directive on Monday, March 9, after a meeting with the Acting Commissioner of Customs, Aaron Akanor, and the management of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).
Under the new directive, goods such as sugar, frozen products, textiles, flour and pharmaceutical items will no longer be allowed to enter or transit through Ghana via land borders. Importers are now required to route these products through the country’s seaports where authorities say monitoring and valuation processes are more effective.
The latest measure follows an earlier restriction placed on the land transit of rice, cooking oil, pasta or spaghetti and canned tomatoes.
According to Dr. Forson, the policy is intended to strengthen border control systems and ensure that import duties and other taxes due to the state are fully accounted for.
“These goods must now be routed exclusively through Ghana’s seaports and will no longer be permitted to enter or transit through Ghana via land borders,” he stated.
In addition to the transit ban, the Finance Minister has directed the recentralisation of the Customs Technical Services Bureau (CTSB). The move is expected to create a one-stop centre for customs valuation and improve intelligence sharing within the Customs Division.
Dr. Forson also indicated that insights from the Publican Artificial Intelligence system will be used to enhance monitoring of imports and help detect irregularities in trade declarations.
