The Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana (IEAG) has expressed strong support for a new government directive requiring certain imported goods to pass through Ghana’s seaports instead of entering the country through land borders.
The directive, issued by the Minister for Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, instructs the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), particularly its Customs Division, to prohibit the land transit of selected commodities including rice, sugar, cooking oil, frozen products, textiles, flour, canned tomatoes, pasta and pharmaceutical products.
In a statement copied to the Ghana News Agency, IEAG Executive Secretary Samson Asaki Awingobit said the policy would help address long-standing challenges within the trading system.
According to the association, some operators have exploited the transit regime by declaring goods as transit cargo destined for neighbouring countries but diverting them into the local market to avoid paying the appropriate import duties.
Such practices, the association noted, have deprived the state of significant revenue while placing legitimate importers at a disadvantage.
The IEAG also highlighted concerns about the undervaluation of goods entering the country through land borders, explaining that some traders deliberately misdeclare the value, quantity or classification of cargo to reduce their tax obligations.
The association believes routing the affected goods through seaports will improve transparency in the customs clearance process because the ports have stronger monitoring and verification systems, including cargo scanning technology and standardised valuation procedures.
The group further welcomed government plans to recentralise the Customs Technical Services Bureau, describing the move as a step that could improve coordination and strengthen the detection of irregularities in trade documentation.
However, the association stressed that the success of the directive would depend on effective and consistent enforcement.
It urged the government to strengthen border surveillance and prevent the smuggling of the affected commodities through unapproved routes.
The IEAG also recommended deploying military personnel to assist border officials in combating organised smuggling networks.
The association reaffirmed its commitment to supporting government policies aimed at strengthening trade governance, protecting national revenue and ensuring fair competition within Ghana’s import and export sector.
