Ghana’s Minister for Finance, Cassiel Ato Forson, has announced a new directive banning the import and transit of several goods through the country’s land borders in a move aimed at safeguarding national revenue.
The decision follows a meeting between the Finance Minister, the Acting Commissioner of Customs, Aaron Akanor, and the management of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).
The directive affects a number of widely traded products, including cooking oil, rice, sugar, frozen foods, textiles, flour, canned tomatoes, pasta, spaghetti and pharmaceutical products.
Under the new policy, these goods must now enter Ghana strictly through the country’s seaports and will no longer be allowed to be imported or transported through land borders.
According to Dr. Forson, the measure is part of efforts by the government to tighten controls at the borders and prevent possible revenue leakages within the import and transit system.
“Earlier today, I met with the Acting Commissioner of Customs, Mr. Aaron Akanor, and the management of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority to discuss recent developments at our borders and to take decisive steps to protect Ghana’s revenue,” the Finance Minister said in a post on Facebook.
He emphasised that the directive is intended to close existing loopholes that could be exploited within the import system and ensure the state collects the appropriate duties on goods entering the country.
