The Minister for Finance, Cassiel Ato Forson, has disclosed that the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has intercepted eighteen articulated trucks suspected to be involved in a transit diversion scheme intended to evade customs duties.
According to the Minister, the interception was carried out on Wednesday night by the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority after intelligence and field surveillance revealed that the trucks, which had been declared as goods in transit to Niger, were moving without the mandatory Customs Human Escorts required under established transit protocols.
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The trucks were reportedly released from the Akanu Border Post for transit through the Eastern Corridor, with Kulungugu designated as the exit point en route to Niger under Bill of Entry Number 80226125039. The declared cargo consisted of 44,055 packages with a total weight of 879,860 kilograms.
Twelve Trucks Impounded, Six Still Being Pursued
The Finance Minister said twelve of the eighteen trucks have so far been impounded, with eleven secured at the Tema Transit Yard for detailed inspection, investigations, and further legal processing.
One of the trucks overturned while allegedly attempting to evade interception, spilling its cargo, while efforts are ongoing to track down the remaining six vehicles.
Revenue Loss Risk Jumps from GH¢2.6 Million to GH¢85.3 Million
Initial suspended duties and taxes on the consignment were estimated at GH¢2,619,748.81. However, post-interception examinations uncovered significant discrepancies in declared unit values, tariff classifications, and cargo weights, which substantially understated the actual tax liability.
The revised suspended revenue exposure has now been pegged at GH¢85,306,578.33.
Investigations Target Officials, Importers and Agents
Preliminary findings, the Minister noted, point to systemic control weaknesses and possible human complicity in the attempted diversion.
He has therefore directed the GRA to undertake comprehensive investigations immediately, warning that any Customs officer found culpable will face prompt disciplinary action in accordance with the law.
Criminal investigations will also be extended to importers and clearing agents where evidence warrants prosecution.
“The full rigours of the law will be applied,” the Minister emphasised.
Impounded Goods to Be Auctioned
Government has indicated that the seized goods will be auctioned strictly in accordance with applicable legal provisions.
New Directives Issued to Prevent Abuse of Transit Regime
In response to the incident, the Finance Minister has ordered the implementation of the following immediate measures:
1. All land transit of cooking oil has been prohibited, with such consignments now required to be routed exclusively through Ghana’s seaports.
2. All transactions originating from land collection points will be subjected to enhanced monitoring, tracking, and strict compliance enforcement.
3. Disciplinary processes and legal prosecution will be promptly initiated against Customs officers found culpable in similar breaches.
Government Vows to Protect Revenue and Local Industry
Mr. Forson reiterated government’s resolve to safeguard local industry, protect jobs, and prevent the customs regime from being exploited to undermine domestic revenue mobilisation.
“We will not allow Ghana’s customs regime to be abused at the expense of national development. Every cedi matters in our collective effort to fund national priorities,” he stated.
The development underscores renewed efforts by authorities to tighten enforcement within Ghana’s transit trade system and curb revenue leakages at the country’s borders.
