Authorities have launched formal investigations into the suspected diversion of 18 articulated trucks carrying assorted goods, including cooking oil, spaghetti, and tomato paste, in what is believed to be a transit fraud operation.
Deputy Finance Minister Thomas Nyarko Ampem told the Citi Breakfast Show on Monday, February 23, that preliminary reviews and administrative procedures are already underway, with disciplinary measures expected against any officials found complicit.
The trucks, intercepted at the Akanu and Aflao border posts on February 18, were declared for transit to Niger but are suspected to have been diverted for local sale, depriving the state of substantial customs revenue.
Mr. Ampem confirmed that Minister of Finance Cassiel Ato Forson had directed the Ghana Revenue Authority’s Customs Division to act swiftly, including issuing queries to officers responsible for escorting the trucks. The Deputy Minister emphasized that sanctions, including interdictions, would follow based on the investigation’s findings.
“The government is committed to clamping down on organised customs-related fraud and restoring discipline within the system,” he said, highlighting that the incident underscores the need for stricter oversight in transit operations.
Customs officials and investigators are now working to determine the extent of the alleged scheme and ensure that all culpable parties are held accountable under the law.
