The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has allocated a large consignment of confiscated transit goods to the National School Feeding Programme after investigations established that the cargo was fraudulently declared and intended for diversion into the local market.
Commissioner-General Anthony Kwasi Sarpong announced the decision during a media briefing in Accra on Tuesday, saying the allocation was approved by the Ministry of Finance following theconclusion of investigations into the attempted transit diversion involving 18 trucks intercepted in February this year.
According to Mr. Sarpong, the goods, which included thousands of jerry cans of vegetable cooking oil and other food items, were originally declared as transit cargo from Togo through Ghana to Niger. However, investigations uncovered extensive irregularities, including falsified trade documents, under-declaration of goods, incorrect tariff classifications and inconsistencies regarding the identity of the consignee.
He said the evidence established that the consignment had breached Ghana’s customs laws, leading the Authority to confiscate the entire cargo.
“Following the findings of the investigation, the consignment has been confiscated to the state, and under the direction of the Ministry of Finance, it has been allocated to the National School Feeding Programme in support of a national cause,” Mr. Sarpong stated.
The Commissioner-General explained that the decision ensures the seized goods will benefit schoolchildren rather than remain idle or be lost through illegal trade.
He disclosed that the investigation also identified serious lapses in the handling of the transaction, leading to the interdiction of four Customs officers who are currently undergoing internal disciplinary proceedings. Investigations into the activities of the clearing agent and other persons connected to the transaction are also ongoing.
Mr. Sarpong said the probe revealed that export documents obtained from Togolese Customs showed the goods were originally destined for companies in Côte d’Ivoire rather than Niger as declared at Ghana’s border. Physical inspection also uncovered more goods than had been declared, while some products were deliberately misdescribed to reduce the applicable customs duties.
He further revealed that GRA’s review of previous transit records linked the declared consignee to dozens of earlier transactions with similar irregularities, raising concerns about an organised pattern of transit fraud.
The Commissioner-General reaffirmed GRA’s commitment to protecting government revenue and safeguarding the integrity of Ghana’s transit trade system.
He said the Authority has intensified compliance and surveillance at the country’s border posts and warned that anyone involved in customs fraud, smuggling or transit diversion would face the full rigours of the law.
Mr. Sarpong also urged importers, freight forwarders and the business community to comply with customs regulations to ensure transparent and legitimate trade while supporting national development.
