Government Tightens Customs Controls After Suspected Transit Fraud Involving 18 Trucks
The government has imposed a ban on the land transit of key food commodities, including rice, canned tomato paste and mackerel, in a move aimed at curbing diversion schemes and protecting domestic manufacturing.
President John Dramani Mahama announced the measure while commissioning the Olam Agri Ghana pasta manufacturing facility, describing the restriction as part of a broader strategy to strengthen customs enforcement and reduce Ghana’s dependence on imported processed foods.
“The government has recently restricted imports of certain commodities following enforcement actions involving illegal shipments including vegetable cooking oil, rice, tomato paste, mackerel, and related products,” the president said.
The directive comes amid growing concerns within the government over goods declared as transit cargo but allegedly diverted into Ghana’s local market without proper customs clearance, undermining both customs revenue and domestic producers.
Transit diversion probe
The policy move follows an incident in February 2026, when Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson ordered a full investigation into a suspected transit diversion scheme involving 18 articulated trucks intercepted at the Akanu and Aflao borders.
Authorities said the trucks had been declared as transit cargo destined for Niger, but were allegedly operating without the mandatory customs escorts required under Ghana’s transit trade regulations.
The case raised questions about possible loopholes in the transit monitoring system, with officials warning that diversion of transit goods into the domestic market can lead to significant loss of customs revenue and unfair competition for local manufacturers.
Government sources say the new restrictions are designed to prevent similar abuses by placing sensitive commodities under tighter transit controls.
Protecting domestic production
President Mahama linked the policy decision to Ghana’s broader industrial strategy, arguing that reducing dependence on imported processed foods is critical for economic stability.
“Facilities like this represent a deliberate shift – from reliance to production, from lost opportunities to targeted industrial growth,” the President said.
He noted that food imports have historically contributed to rising import bills, pressure on the cedi and limited expansion of local manufacturing employment.
“Food production directly affects household budgets, market prices and pressure on foreign exchange reserves,” he added.
“When production happens outside Ghana, the economic burden is ultimately borne at home.”
The government believes strengthening domestic processing industries will help retain value within the economy while creating jobs across agricultural and industrial supply chains.
The new Olam Agri pasta manufacturing plant, commissioned by the President, operates on a shift-based system, qualifying it under the government’s flagship 24-hour economy initiative.
Parliament has already passed the 24-Hour Economy Authority Bill, with implementation expected to support companies willing to expand round-the-clock production.
Under the framework, manufacturers may access incentives such as duty-free importation of equipment for expansion, provided they register under the programme. President Mahama encouraged Olam Agri to utilise the policy to scale production capacity and deepen local manufacturing.
The government is also exploring ways to localise raw material supply for food manufacturing.
According to the President, scientists at the Crops Research Institute of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) have developed a wheat variety capable of being cultivated in Ghana, achieving yields of five to six tonnes per hectare during trial production.
He urged collaboration between Olam Agri and local researchers to integrate domestically produced wheat into the company’s pasta value chain.
Such linkages, he said, could help connect farmers directly to processors while strengthening Ghana’s food manufacturing ecosystem.
Olam Agri currently employs more than 4,500 Ghanaians directly and indirectly, according to figures cited during the commissioning ceremony.
The company has operated in Ghana for over three decades, expanding from commodity trading into agro-processing activities including wheat milling, biscuit production, cocoa processing and tomato manufacturing.
Authorities say the combination of tighter transit controls and expanded manufacturing capacity forms part of a broader government strategy to protect domestic investment while maintaining integrity in Ghana’s trade and customs systems.
Officials say enforcement at border posts will be intensified, with stricter verification of transit cargo and mandatory escort procedures to ensure goods declared for transit exit Ghanaian territory.
Government has also warned that additional commodities could face tighter controls if diversion schemes continue.
