In a move to plug systemic revenue leakages and tighten border security, the Minister for Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has ordered an immediate ban on the land transit of nine essential product categories, effectively compelling these imports to be routed exclusively through Ghana’s seaports.

The directive, issued following an emergency consultation with the Acting Commissioner of Customs, Mr. Aaron Akanor, and the leadership of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), marks a significant shift in the nation’s trade and border management strategy.

Effective immediately, the following commodities will no longer be permitted to transit via Ghana’s land borders:

• Food staples: Rice, sugar, flour, cooking oil, pasta/spaghetti, and canned tomatoes.
• Consumer and health goods: Frozen products, textiles, and pharmaceutical products.

It follows the ban on land transit of commercial quantities of cooking oil through Ghana’s borders in February after a visit by the finance ministry officials to land borders in the Ketu South Municipality and the Ketu North District.

According to Dr. Forson, this mandatory transition to seaport entry is designed to eliminate the vulnerabilities inherent in land-based transit and ensure that all duties and taxes are fully accounted for at major ports of entry.

Alongside the transit ban, the Finance Minister has ordered the recentralisation of the Customs Technical Services Bureau (CTSB). By creating a “one-stop shop” for valuation, the move aims to streamline customs operations and enhance the accuracy of cargo assessments.

This administrative overhaul will be bolstered by improved intelligence-sharing protocols, leveraging data insights from the Publican AI system to identify high-risk shipments and prevent tax evasion.

“These measures are intended to strengthen border controls, close revenue leakages, and safeguard government revenue,” Dr. Forson stated on Monday, March 9, following the meeting.

The Ministry has issued a clear mandate to all relevant departments within the GRA to enforce these directives without exception. The crackdown reflects the government's broader strategy to stabilise the national fiscal position by ensuring that trade-related revenue is captured efficiently and transparently.

The implementation of these measures is expected to reshape import logistics in the coming days, as clearing agents and transport operators adjust to the new requirement that these high-volume goods must now pass through the national port infrastructure.