The Tema District Council of the Maritime and Dockworkers’ Union of Ghana (MDU-GH) has called on the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) to clearly define the rules governing travellers who enter the country with multiple mobile phones.
The Council said Customs authorities should provide transparent thresholds and procedures to guide travellers and officers, arguing that the mere number of phones in a passenger’s possession should not automatically determine whether the items are intended for commercial purposes.
The call follows comments attributed to the Acting Commissioner of Customs, Mr Aaron Kanu, suggesting that travellers carrying mobile phones beyond a certain number could be subjected to commercial import procedures.
In a statement signed by Mr Emmanuel Arhin, Chairman-Elect of the Tema District Council, the MDU-GH said Customs should consider the purpose, ownership, circumstances and other available evidence before classifying mobile phones as commercial imports.
It said a Ghanaian returning from abroad could legitimately be travelling with several phones intended as gifts for family members, including spouses, children, parents and siblings.
The Council noted that international travel was often associated with family occasions such as Christmas celebrations, weddings, funerals, birthdays and other gatherings, during which returning residents might carry gifts for relatives.
“Quantity may raise a question, but quantity alone should not become evidence of commercial intent,” the Council said.
The MDU-GH maintained that its position did not undermine the mandate of the Customs Division to protect state revenue and enforce Ghana’s customs laws.
It said it supported lawful revenue mobilisation and national development but stressed that enforcement measures should be implemented in a manner that was fair, transparent and based on sound judgement.
The Council urged Customs to distinguish between genuine commercial importation and personal or family belongings before imposing additional customs requirements or financial obligations on travellers.
It also called for greater focus on what it described as significant areas of potential revenue leakage, including large-scale smuggling, under-invoicing, false declarations, misclassification of goods, deliberate customs evasion, inadequate cargo monitoring and fraudulent documentation.
According to the Council, applying an excessively rigid approach to travellers carrying multiple mobile phones could impose additional financial pressure on workers, families and Ghanaians living abroad, particularly amid existing economic difficulties.
The MDU-GH therefore appealed to Mr Kanu and the GRA to publicly clarify the applicable rules, thresholds and procedures to eliminate uncertainty among travellers and Customs officers.
It further called for engagement with organised labour and other affected stakeholders before implementing measures that could have significant implications for citizens.
The Council also urged Customs officers to exercise professionalism and fairness when dealing with passengers, saying the enforcement of revenue laws should not result in arbitrary treatment.
“We are not against revenue mobilisation. We are not against enforcement. We are against unfairness and blanket assumptions,” the statement said.
The MDU-GH said it would continue to monitor the implementation and practical effects of any policy concerning travellers carrying multiple phones and would use the appropriate channels to raise concerns about unfair treatment, unnecessary hardship or abuse of discretion.
