Deputy Finance Minister Alleges Customs–Importer Collusion in GHS 85.3m Revenue Risk Case
Deputy Minister for Finance, Thomas Nyarko Ampem, has accused certain officials within the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) of working in concert with importers to deliberately understate the value of imported goods, causing substantial losses to government revenue.
The allegations arise in the wake of the interception of 18 articulated trucks at the Akanu and Aflao border points on February 18, 2026, following concerns over irregularities linked to their transit status.
The trucks, which had been declared as transit cargo bound for Niger, were transporting various consumer items, including cooking oil, spaghetti and tomato paste.
They were stopped by customs officers after triggering suspicion over compliance with approved transit arrangements.
Authorities indicated that the vehicles were travelling without the required customs human escort, a clear violation of laid-down transit protocols. The goods involved are estimated to pose a potential revenue risk of about GHS 85.3 million, with preliminary calculations placing the immediate revenue exposure at GHS 2.62 million.
In an interview on Monday, February 23, 2026, Mr Nyarko Ampem said the incident reflects a persistent problem within the customs system, where some officials allegedly assist importers to falsify or manipulate declarations.
“The customs authorities have been monitoring the movement. I have sighted a letter written by one of the officers to the Aflao border, directing that the goods should not be allowed to enter. This suggests the activity had been ongoing and under surveillance for some time,” he noted.
He explained that under existing customs regulations, officers are required to accompany transit cargo across the country, yet the two officials officially assigned to escort the trucks were not present when the vehicles were intercepted.
Mr Ampem acknowledged that while many customs officers discharge their responsibilities diligently, a small group — which he described as “bad nuts” — collaborate with importers to cheat the state through practices such as undervaluation and diversion of consignments.
“There are a few bad nuts in customs who assist importers to defraud the country. When the officers who are committed to the job realised what was happening, they decided to intervene,” he stated.
He further revealed that the two officers involved later provided varying explanations for their absence, a situation that led the Finance Minister to instruct that a thorough investigation be conducted into the incident.
The Deputy Minister emphasised that the government remains resolute in its efforts to curb revenue leakages at the borders, particularly those arising from under-declaration and undervaluation of imports, which continue to weaken domestic revenue mobilisation.
He assured the public that any officials found to have acted improperly will be dealt with in accordance with the law, as part of wider measures aimed at tightening customs controls and protecting state revenue.
