A coalition of major trade and freight forwarding
bodies, led by the Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders (GIFF), has called on
government to urgently review recent policy directives affecting transit trade,
customs valuation, and port operations, warning that current measures could
undermine Ghana’s position as a preferred trade corridor in West Africa.
Addressing a press conference in Tema on Monday, March
30, 2026, the General Secretary of GIFF, Paul Kobina Mensah, expressed deep
concern over what he described as “rushed, unclear and disruptive” policy
interventions, particularly the application of the Publican AI system in
customs valuation, recent restrictions on transit trade, and the centralisation
of technical clearance processes.
Speaking on behalf of a broad coalition that
includes the Ghana Union of Traders Associations, Association of Customs House
Agents Ghana and Customs Brokers Association of Ghana, Mr. Mensah noted that
while stakeholders support lawful enforcement and revenue protection, the
current approach risks eroding investor confidence and disrupting legitimate
trade.
He explained that the restriction on selected goods
under transit arrangements, though intended to curb revenue leakages, sends a
negative signal to regional traders and logistics investors. According to him,
transit trade thrives on predictability and trust, and any abrupt or poorly
communicated policy shifts could lead to cargo diversion to competing
corridors.
On the use of the Publican AI system, Mr. Mensah
acknowledged the importance of technology in modern customs administration but
cautioned against what he termed an “opaque digital layer” influencing
valuation and clearance decisions without clear legal backing. He argued that
the system’s application appears inconsistent with provisions of the Customs
Act, 2015 (Act 891) and internationally accepted valuation principles,
particularly the reliance on transaction value as the primary basis for duty
assessment.
He further highlighted instances of what the
coalition considers excessive and inconsistent duty valuations generated under
the system, warning that such outcomes could threaten business sustainability
and increase the cost of goods on the local market. Concerns were also raised
about the system’s inability to fairly assess used and non-standard goods, as
well as the risk of embedded over-valuation within global trade data used by
the AI tool.
The coalition also criticised the recentralisation
of the Customs Technical Services Bureau (CTSB), arguing that it has created
operational bottlenecks and delays in cargo clearance. Mr. Mensah stressed that
an efficient 24-hour economy cannot function under what he described as a
“one-door decision trap,” where stakeholders must rely on a single point for
technical approvals.
Additionally, the group expressed concern over the
rising fees and charges imposed by various Ministries, Departments and Agencies
(MDAs), including regulatory bodies such as the Environmental Protection Agency
and the Ghana Standards Authority. They noted that the frequent upward review
of these charges places an undue financial burden on traders and undermines
efforts to improve the business environment.
The coalition is demanded the immediate review or
suspension of the directive governing the Publican AI valuation system, in line
with international standards, the establishment of an independent and
accessible appeals mechanism and the decentralisation of valuation processes to
reduce delays and port-related costs.
The GIFF General Secretary also called for broader
stakeholder engagement in the implementation of transit and trade policies, strict
alignment of all interventions with the Customs Act, 2015 (Act 891) and a
downward review of fees and charges imposed by MDAs
He warned that failure by authorities to address
these concerns could result in further lawful actions, including coordinated
industrial measures by industry players.
Mr. Mensah concluded by urging government to strike a balance between enforcement and trade facilitation, emphasizing that Ghana must position itself not as a restrictive corridor, but as a “smart, trusted and competitive” gateway for regional and international trade.
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