GRA Refutes Claims of Irregularities in Auction of Perishable Goods at Ports
The Ghana Revenue Authority has rejected allegations by the Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana (IEAG) that Customs officials were failing to adhere to established procedures in the auctioning of perishable goods at the country’s ports.
In a statement issued late on Wednesday, the Authority said the Customs Act, 2015 (Act 891) provided clear guidance on the treatment of perishable and non-perishable goods, and insisted officers were acting within the law.
The clarification follows a press release by the IEAG accusing Customs of irregular auction practices that it claimed disadvantaged importers and eroded confidence in port operations.
“Section 53(3)(a) of the Customs Act authorises a Proper Officer to immediately dispose of perishable goods through public auction after 21 days of overstay,” the Authority noted, adding that motor vehicles received separate treatment with up to 60 days allowed for clearance.
It described as “erroneous” the suggestion that importers had 60 days to clear perishable cargo, urging traders to adopt the pre-arrival clearance plan to ensure duties were paid ahead of shipment arrival.
The GRA emphasised that its Customs Division remained committed to applying the law consistently, “while upholding our values of fairness, integrity, responsiveness, service and teamwork.”
The dispute comes against the backdrop of rising tensions between government agencies and trading associations over port charges, foreign exchange constraints and auction procedures, which importers argue have contributed to higher costs of doing business.
