Gov’t bans land border transit for imported goods to plug revenue leaks

The government has imposed a ban on the land transit of selected imported goods, restricting their entry exclusively to the country’s seaports as part of a broader strategy to tighten border controls and curb revenue losses.

Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson announced the new directive on Monday, following a high-level meeting with the Acting Commissioner of Customs, Aaron Akanor, and the management of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).

The prohibition targets a list of commonly traded commodities, including cooking oil, rice, sugar, frozen foods, textiles, flour, canned tomatoes, pasta, spaghetti, and pharmaceutical products.

Effective immediately, these items can no longer be imported or transit through Ghana via land borders. Under the new arrangement, all such goods must be routed through the country’s seaports for clearance and inspection.

Dr. Forson stated that the decision was reached after reviewing recent developments at the nation’s borders and is a critical step toward safeguarding public funds.

“Earlier today, I met with the Acting Commissioner of Customs… to discuss the recent developments at our borders and to take decisive steps to protect Ghana’s revenue,” the Finance Minister said in a Facebook post. He explained that the measure is designed to close potential gaps in the import and transit system that often lead to significant revenue leakages.

In a parallel move to enhance oversight, the Minister has ordered the recentralisation of the Customs Technical Services Bureau (CTSB). The unit, responsible for valuation and technical support, will now operate on a centralized platform. Officials say this will strengthen intelligence-sharing among officers and improve the application of valuation tools, including insights generated by the GRA’s artificial intelligence system, known as Publican.

Dr. Forson emphasized that the reforms are intended to improve the monitoring of goods entering the country and enhance the government’s overall capacity for revenue mobilization.

“These measures are intended to strengthen border controls, close revenue leakages, and safeguard government revenue,” he stated.

He has directed all relevant departments within the Customs Division to ensure strict and immediate compliance with the new protocols. The directive signals an intensified effort by authorities to tighten monitoring systems at all entry points amid a broader push to boost domestic revenue.