The directive, issued by the Minister for Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, to the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), affects goods such as cooking oil, rice, sugar, frozen products, textiles, flour, canned tomatoes, pasta or spaghetti, and pharmaceutical products. 

In a press statement signed by Samson Asaki Awingobit, the Executive Secretary, and copied to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), the association described the directive as a step in the right direction and one that had long been advocated by stakeholders in the trading community. 

He said the association, for several years, legitimate importers and exporters had raised concerns about the widespread abuse of the land transit regime by some individuals and organised networks. 

The statement explained that some operators had been exploiting the transit system as a cover to evade payment of appropriate import duties by declaring goods as transit cargo destined for neighbouring countries but diverting them into the Ghanaian market. 

It noted that such practices deprived the state of significant revenue and created unfair competition for businesses that complied with the legitimate importation process through the seaports. 

The association further indicated that the abuse of the transit regime had also been linked to the systematic undervaluation of goods entering the country through land borders. 

It explained that by misdeclaring the value, quantity or classification of goods, some operators drastically reduced their tax obligations, thereby distorting market prices and undermining the integrity of Ghana’s customs valuation system. 

The IEAG stated that routing the affected commodities through Ghana’s seaports would enhance transparency and accountability in the customs clearance process. 

It noted that the ports were equipped with stronger verification systems, including cargo scanning technologies, standardised valuation mechanisms and improved inter-agency supervision to ensure accurate cargo declarations and full payment of statutory duties. 

It also welcomed the directive to recentralise the Customs Technical Services Bureau (CTSB), explaining that a centralised one-stop valuation and intelligence hub would improve coordination and strengthen the detection of irregularities in trade documentation. 

The IEAG emphasised that the sustainability of the policy would depend largely on consistent enforcement, observing that previous regulatory measures had sometimes failed due to weak enforcement and systemic lapses at the country’s borders. 

The association called on the government to complement the directive with stronger border monitoring mechanisms, to prevent the smuggling of the affected goods through unapproved routes. 

It further recommended the deployment of military personnel, to support border enforcement operations as a deterrent to organised smuggling networks. 

The IEAG reiterated its commitment to supporting government initiatives aimed at strengthening trade governance, protecting national revenue, and promoting a fair and transparent trading environment. 

The statement expressed optimism that effective implementation of the directive would reduce revenue leakages, restore integrity to the importation process and create a level playing field for legitimate businesses operating in Ghana.