The Minister for Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has directed the immediate 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 held earlier today, Monday, March 9 between the Minister and the Acting Commissioner of Customs, Mr. Aaron Akanor, together with the management of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).
In a statement after the meeting, the Minister said the decision was taken after discussions on recent developments at Ghana’s borders and the need to safeguard government revenue.
Under the new directive, the affected products, cooking oil, rice, sugar, frozen products, textiles, flour, canned tomatoes, pasta or spaghetti, and pharmaceutical products will no longer be permitted to enter or transit through Ghana via land borders.
Instead, the goods must now be routed exclusively through the country’s seaports.
According to Dr. Forson, the move forms part of government’s efforts to tighten border security and ensure proper monitoring of goods entering the country.
The Minister also announced the recentralisation of the Customs Technical Services Bureau (CTSB), a step he said would create a one-stop shop for valuation processes.
He explained that the measure will also enhance intelligence sharing within the Customs Division, including insights generated through the Publican Artificial Intelligence (AI) system.
Dr. Forson stressed that the new directives are aimed at strengthening border controls, closing revenue leakages, and protecting government revenue.
He has therefore directed all relevant departments and units within the Customs Division of the GRA to ensure strict compliance with the new measures.
