GIFF Demands Independent Probe into 18-Truck BOE Incident, Warns Against Transit Policy Backlash

The Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders (GIFF) is calling for an independent technical reconciliation into the enforcement incident involving 18 trucks linked to Bill of Entry (BOE) number 80226125039.

At a press conference held on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, at the GIFF National Secretariat in Tema and addressed by the General Secretary, Paul Kobina Mensah alongside the President, Mr. Stephen Adjokatcher, and other national executives, GIFF urged government authorities to exercise caution to avoid actions that could undermine Ghana’s transit trade competitiveness.

The Institute appealed to the Minister for Finance to conduct an urgent, evidence-based review of recent transit policy measures introduced following allegations that the 18 trucks had diverted from their approved route. GIFF emphasized that while it does not condone illegality, enforcement actions must be balanced to protect both state revenue and Ghana’s long-standing reputation as the preferred transit gateway to the Sahel.

According to GIFF’s chronology of events, all 18 trucks remained electronically visible throughout the episode, as confirmed by the official tracking operator. The six trucks initially reported missing were later traced and physically verified. The Institute further explained that route deviation alerts were triggered after enforcement officers redirected the trucks to the Tema Transit Yard, a location outside the originally declared corridor. Available evidence, GIFF noted, suggests that the electronic control system functioned as designed, making premature allegations of wrongdoing surprising.

GIFF cautioned that sweeping restrictions, if not carefully calibrated, could unintentionally penalize compliant operators and introduce regulatory uncertainty into Ghana’s transit regime. It stressed that international trade norms recognize a trader’s right to optimize costs, time, and routing within legal boundaries. Corridor selection, the Institute observed, is often influenced by port charges, cargo dwell times, and procedural efficiency.

The Institute acknowledged legitimate reform areas, including escort policy consistency, transit bond adequacy, route dwell monitoring, and post-clearance reconciliation. However, it maintained that these concerns should be addressed through targeted, intelligence-driven controls rather than broad commodity-based restrictions.

The Institute warned that transit trade is highly sensitive to policy signals. If restrictions are tightened indiscriminately, Sahel-bound cargo could gradually shift to alternative coastal corridors, leading to underutilization of Ghana’s transit infrastructure and softer customs volumes in the medium term. Cargo owners in Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali, the Institute noted, have alternative routing options and respond swiftly to perceived administrative friction.

The statement also highlighted potential diplomatic implications. Within the West African transit ecosystem, corridor policies often attract reciprocal measures. If Ghana is perceived as broadly restricting transit access, neighboring countries may introduce mirror administrative restrictions, adjust corridor preferences, or recalibrate bilateral transit cooperation. GIFF stressed that Ghana’s leadership in the AfCFTA era depends on firm but facilitative compliance enforcement.

As part of a forward-looking reform package, GIFF proposed risk-tiered escort protocols, real-time ICUMS and tracking reconciliation dashboards, strengthened transit bond reviews, the creation of a joint Customs-Ghana Link anomaly review cell, and sanctions strictly targeted at proven offenders. It further called on the Minister to review the proportionality of current measures, convene structured stakeholder engagement, reaffirm Ghana’s commitment to freedom of transit under enhanced compliance, and issue clear guidance distinguishing proven diversion from enforcement-stage anomalies.

GIFF reiterated its full support for government’s revenue protection mandate, stressing that enforcement credibility and trade facilitation must move in tandem to preserve Ghana’s transit advantage.

The Institute’s position aligns with a separate press release issued on February 20, 2026, by Ghana Link Network Services, operators of the Integrated Customs Management System (ICUMS), which stated that all 18 trucks were fully visible on their tracking system and none had gone missing.

Meanwhile, some industry stakeholders have questioned the Finance Minister’s response to the incident, suggesting it may have been based on incomplete briefings. Concerns have also been raised about procedural lapses, including the alleged rejection of calls from assigned escorts who reportedly confirmed the trucks’ documentation status, and the failure to issue a formal detention notice before examining the cargo. Additionally, critics fault Customs for conducting cargo examinations without the presence of the agent and cargo owner.

Mr. Stephen Adjokatcher, who also serves as Vice President of FIATA, stated that the transaction involving the 18 trucks was lawful and did not violate any regulations or constitute a crime. He emphasized that, given their awareness of the importance of the government’s revenue mobilization efforts, GIFF and its members would not engage in any actions that could undermine those efforts.

Also present at the press conference were several other executives, including Mr. Eddie Akron, the Institute’s immediate past President, Mr. Kwabena Ofosu Appiah, a former President of the Institute, Mr. Abijah Osabutey-Ayor, the Institute’s Aflao District Chairman, and Madam Rejoice Adoboe, the Institute’s District Chairperson for Kotoka International Airport.