Friday, 09 January

President directs GRA to review TAGG petition on Truedare digital tracking agreement

Business
Anthony Kwasi Sarpong, GRA boss

President John Dramani Mahama has directed the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) to review a petition submitted by the Traders Advocacy Group Ghana (TAGG) concerning the controversial digital customs tracking agreement between the GRA and Truedare Investments Limited.

In an official correspondence dated January 7, 2026, and issued from the Office of the President at Jubilee House, the President requested the Commissioner-General of the GRA to examine the concerns raised in the petition and take the appropriate action.

The petition, titled “No Father Christmas in Customs,” was submitted by TAGG on December 24, 2025, and raises serious objections to the Truedare digital tracking agreement, questioning its necessity, value, and potential duplication of existing systems at Ghana’s ports.

The letter, signed by the Secretary to the President, Dr. Callistus Mahama, indicated that the matter had come to the attention of the President, who considers it important enough to warrant immediate review by the GRA.

“His Excellency the President requests that you kindly review the correspondence and take the appropriate action on the matter,” the letter stated.

Copies of the directive were also forwarded to the Chief of Staff at Jubilee House and the General Secretary of the Traders Advocacy Group Ghana, Mr. Emmanuel N. O. Acheampong.

TAGG has been vocal in its opposition to the agreement, arguing that the Truedare platform duplicates functions already performed by the Integrated Customs Management System (ICUMS) and warning that claims of “no cost to the state” are misleading.

 

The President’s directive signals the government’s willingness to engage stakeholders and subject the agreement to further scrutiny amid growing public and industry concerns over transparency, value for money, and governance in port digitalisation initiatives.

Source: Classfmonline.com/Cecil Mensah