Traders demand suspension of Publican AI system over port disruptions and rising costs
A coalition of traders and freight forwarders has called for the immediate suspension of the Publican AI customs valuation system, warning that its implementation is triggering widespread disruption across Ghana’s ports and threatening the stability of trade flows.
In a formal petition to the Ministry of Finance, the coalition, which includes major industry groups such as the Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders (GIFF), Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) and the Food and Beverages Association of Ghana (FABAG), among others, expressed “deep dissatisfaction” with the current rollout of the system and its operational impact.
The groups argue that while government engagement has begun, including recent discussions with the Deputy Finance Minister, the issues raised by industry stakeholders remain unresolved and continue to worsen.
At the core of the complaint is a breakdown in trade facilitation processes. According to the coalition, the recentralisation of customs valuation under the AI-driven system has led to persistent delays in cargo clearance, with consignments accumulating at ports and entry points.
These delays are not merely administrative. Businesses are now facing rising demurrage and rent charges as goods remain uncleared, increasing operational costs and tightening liquidity across the trading ecosystem, the group said.
More critically, traders say the system is generating exorbitant and unsustainable duty assessments, with valuations exceeding the capacity of importers to pay. This raises broader concerns about pricing accuracy, transparency and alignment with Ghana’s legal and international trade obligations.
For import-dependent sectors, particularly food, manufacturing inputs and consumer goods, such cost distortions risk feeding directly into inflation and supply shortages.
The coalition also highlighted weaknesses in the system’s dispute resolution mechanisms. The appeals process, they argue, remains unclear, slow and ineffective, limiting the ability of businesses to challenge valuations in real time and compounding operational uncertainty.
This they say, has left many traders exposed to financial losses without clear recourse, further eroding confidence in the system.
Against this backdrop, the coalition is demanding an immediate suspension of the Publican AI system pending a comprehensive review with an argument that any digital transformation of customs processes must be aligned with legal frameworks, operational realities and international best practice, rather than introduced in a manner that disrupts trade flows.
The groups emphasised that their position is not opposition to reform but a call for sequenced implementation, stakeholder alignment and system reliability. The dispute highlights a deeper policy tension facing Ghana’s trade ecosystem on how to modernise customs systems without undermining efficiency and cost predictability
While AI-driven valuation systems have the potential to enhance compliance, reduce under-invoicing and boost revenue, poor implementation risks achieving the opposite: slowing trade, increasing costs and ultimately reducing transaction volumes. The experience echoes broader lessons from recent policy interventions, where increased cost burdens have sometimes led to behavioural shifts that undermine revenue expectations.
The coalition warned that if concerns remain unaddressed, it may be forced to consider further action to protect the interests of its members and the wider trading community.
Such a development would raise the risk of industrial action or coordinated resistance, potentially disrupting supply chains and port operations at a time when Ghana is seeking to strengthen its position as a regional trade hub.
