The Minister for Finance, Cassiel Ato Forson, has announced sweeping new measures aimed at tightening border controls and safeguarding government revenue. The directives follow a high-level meeting with the Acting Commissioner of Customs, Mr. Aaron Akanor, and the management of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).
Among the measures is an immediate ban on the land transit of selected goods, which must now be routed exclusively through Ghana’s seaports. The affected products include cooking oil, rice, sugar, frozen foods, textiles, flour, canned tomatoes, pasta and spaghetti, and pharmaceutical products.
The Finance Minister explained that the move is designed to close revenue leakages and strengthen monitoring of imports. “These goods will no longer be permitted to enter or transit through Ghana via land borders,” he stated.
In addition, Mr. Forson directed the recentralisation of the Customs Technical Services Bureau (CTSB) to create a one-stop shop for valuation and enhance intelligence sharing. The initiative will also leverage insights generated through the Publican AI system to improve oversight.
“All relevant departments and units within the Customs Division of the GRA must ensure strict compliance with these directives,” the Minister emphasized, noting that the measures are part of broader efforts to protect Ghana’s fiscal stability.
The announcement comes amid growing concern over revenue losses at the country’s borders and is expected to have significant implications for traders and importers who rely on land routes.
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