Government Bans Land Transit of Selected Goods to Protect Revenue

Editor : Solomon Kwabena Nana-Ansah

Government has announced a ban on the land transit of selected goods through Ghana’s borders as part of measures to curb revenue leakages and strengthen border controls.

The directive follows a meeting between the Minister for Finance, Cassiel Ato Forson, the Acting Commissioner of Customs, Aaron Akanor, and the management of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority.

According to the Minister, the decision forms part of efforts to safeguard government revenue and address recent developments at the country’s borders.

Under the new directive, the affected products will no longer be allowed to enter or transit through Ghana via land borders. Instead, they must be routed exclusively through the country’s seaports.

The products affected by the ban include cooking oil, rice, sugar, frozen products, textiles, flour, canned tomatoes, pasta or spaghetti, and pharmaceutical products.

In addition to the ban, the Minister has directed the recentralisation of the Customs Technical Services Bureau (CTSB) to establish a one-stop shop for valuation.

The move is also expected to strengthen intelligence sharing within the Customs Division, including insights generated through the Publican Artificial Intelligence system.

The Finance Minister has directed all relevant departments and units within the Ghana Revenue Authority to ensure strict compliance with the new measures.

The government says the directives are aimed at tightening border controls, reducing revenue losses and improving efficiency within the country’s customs administration.