The Executive Secretary of the Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana, Samson Asaki Awingobit, has commended Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson for directing a ban on the land transit of selected goods into the country.
The comments follow the Minister’s announcement that certain products will no longer be permitted to enter or transit Ghana via land borders and must now be routed exclusively through seaports.
The affected items include cooking oil, rice, sugar, frozen products, textiles, flour, canned tomatoes, pasta/spaghetti, and pharmaceutical products.
Minister Forson explained the rationale behind the directive:
“These goods must now be routed through our seaports to strengthen border controls, close revenue leakages, and safeguard government revenue. I have also directed the recentralization of the Customs Technical Services Bureau (CTSB) to establish a one-stop shop for valuation and improve intelligence sharing, including insights generated through the Publican AI system. All relevant departments within the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority must ensure strict compliance with these directives.”
Commenting on the ban, Mr. Awingobit said:
“This decision by Minister Forson will not only increase government revenue but also address public health concerns associated with some products entering the country through unregulated routes. We also suggest that the Minister consider banning the land transit of certain electrical appliances, as some traders exploit these routes to sell goods at very low prices, creating unfair competition for importers who follow proper procedures and pay the required taxes.”
He further noted that the land transit route has become one of the main avenues for smuggling, undermining legitimate businesses and reducing state revenue.
Meanwhile, Clement Boateng, President of the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA), also welcomed the directive:
“This is a positive move that will help reduce financial losses to the country. Traders must comply fully with the Minister’s directive and refrain from activities that undermine revenue generation.”
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