The Minister for Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has ordered an immediate and comprehensive investigation into the Ghana Revenue Authority’s Customs Division following the interception of eighteen articulated trucks involved in a massive transit diversion scheme.
During a high-level visit to the Akanu and Aflao border posts, it was revealed that the trucks, officially declared as carrying over 879,000 kilograms of goods in transit to Niger, were moving along the Eastern Corridor without the mandatory Customs Human Escorts required by law. While initial suspended duties were estimated at approximately GHS 2.6 million, post-interception forensic examinations uncovered significant discrepancies in declared values and weights, revealing a staggering revised revenue exposure of GHS 85,306,578.33.
Currently, twelve of the eighteen trucks have been impounded, with eleven secured at the Tema Transit Yard for detailed legal processing and inspection, while one vehicle overturned and spilled its cargo while attempting to evade security forces.
Authorities are actively pursuing the remaining six trucks that fled the scene. Preliminary findings have already pointed to systemic control weaknesses and suspected human complicity within the Customs Division, prompting the Minister to issue a stern warning that any officer found culpable will face prompt disciplinary action.
Furthermore, criminal investigations are being extended to importers and clearing agents, with the government vowing to apply the full rigors of the law and auction the impounded goods to recover lost state funds.
In a decisive move to seal loopholes in the transit regime, Dr. Forson has directed the immediate implementation of several restrictive measures, including a total prohibition on the land transit of cooking oil, which must now be routed exclusively through Ghana’s seaports. Additionally, all transactions originating from land collection points will be subjected to enhanced digital tracking and strict compliance enforcement to safeguard national revenue.
The Finance Minister emphasized that the government remains resolute in its commitment to protecting local industries and jobs, asserting that no individual or entity will be allowed to exploit the customs regime to undermine national development.
The Minister concluded his intervention by stressing that every cedi is vital to funding national priorities, signaling a zero-tolerance policy toward revenue mobilization failures. This crackdown is expected to be the first of many as the Ministry seeks to strengthen domestic revenue monitoring and ensure that all transit protocols are strictly adhered to by both officers and private actors.
The Ghana Revenue Authority is expected to report back on the disciplinary and legal progress of this case without delay to ensure total accountability in the management of the nation’s borders.
Ruth Abla ADJORLOLO
