Ghana’s Finance Minister, Cassiel Ato Forson, has directed the Ghana Revenue Authority to immediately ban the land transit of selected goods as part of measures to strengthen border controls and protect government revenue.

The directive follows a meeting between the minister and the Acting Commissioner of Customs, Aaron Akanor, together with the management of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority to discuss recent developments at Ghana’s borders.

Under the new directive, a number of products will no longer be permitted to enter or transit through Ghana via land borders and must instead be routed exclusively through the country’s seaports.

The affected goods include cooking oil, rice, sugar, frozen products, textiles, flour, canned tomatoes, pasta or spaghetti, and pharmaceutical products.

According to the minister, the move forms part of efforts to strengthen border controls, close revenue leakages and safeguard government revenue.

In addition, the Finance Minister has directed the recentralisation of the Customs Technical Services Bureau (CTSB).

He explained that the move will establish a one-stop shop for valuation while strengthening intelligence sharing, including insights generated through the Publican AI system used by the authority.

The minister has therefore instructed all relevant departments and units within the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority to ensure strict compliance with the directives.