Customs officers under the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) are at the centre of a massive revenue scandal after authorities uncovered an alleged transit diversion scheme that could have cost the state more than GH¢85 million.
The scheme involved 18 articulated trucks loaded with cooking oil, tomato paste and spaghetti, which were declared as goods in transit to Niger but were intercepted within Ghana without the mandatory Customs human escort.
A statement issued by the Ministry of Finance said initial suspended duties were assessed at GH¢2,619,748.81. However, post-interception examinations revealed major discrepancies in declared unit values, tariff classifications and weights.
“These irregularities significantly understated the tax liability, and the suspended revenue exposure has been revised to GH¢85,306,578.33,” the statement said.
The trucks were cleared from the Akanu Border Post in the Volta Region on February 18, 2026, and were expected to exit Ghana through Kulungugu under Bill of Entry Number 80226125039. The declared cargo consisted of 44,055 packages weighing 879,860 kilograms.
However, intelligence and field surveillance led to the interception of 12 trucks along the Dawhenya–Tema Road during a late-night enforcement operation. Officials described the development as a serious breach of Ghana’s transit regime.
Preliminary findings suggest systemic control weaknesses and possible human complicity within the Customs Division. Strikingly, the trucks reportedly passed the Dabala Customs Checkpoint without detection.
Six of the trucks remain unaccounted for, prompting a nationwide manhunt. Authorities confirmed that all 18 trucks were electronically gated out of the Customs system, but only 12 have been physically secured.
One truck overturned while attempting to evade interception, spilling its cargo, while another developed a mechanical fault during the operation.
Eleven of the seized trucks are currently secured at the Tema Transit Yard under strict Customs supervision, with logistical support from the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority.
Despite the magnitude of the potential revenue loss, no Customs officer has yet been sanctioned. The identity of the importer and the brands involved have also not been disclosed.
The impounded goods are expected to be auctioned in accordance with applicable laws as investigations continue.
