Thomas Nyarko Ampem is Deputy Minister of Finance
The Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority has intensified efforts to trace six articulated trucks that remain unaccounted for in a suspected transit diversion scheme involving goods with more than GH¢85 million in potential tax exposure.
The trucks are part of a consignment of 18 vehicles that were electronically gated out of the Customs system as transit cargo but were allegedly moving within Ghana without the mandatory Customs escort.
Twelve of the trucks were intercepted during a late-night enforcement operation along the Dawhenya–Tema Road, while six are yet to be located.
Officials say the operation, conducted between 10:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m., was led by the Deputy Commissioner in charge of Operations, with support from the Preventive Unit at Tema Collection, Customs Headquarters enforcement officers and the Revenue Mobilisation Taskforce of National Security.
The trucks were declared as carrying goods in transit from Akanu and destined for Niger through Kulungugu. Under Ghana’s transit regime, such cargo is expected to move under strict supervision to prevent diversion into the domestic market without payment of duties.
However, authorities intercepted 12 of the trucks moving without the required human escort, a breach considered serious under Customs procedures.
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Preliminary checks confirmed that all 18 trucks had been electronically cleared from the system as transit goods, raising questions about compliance and monitoring controls.
The cargo consisted of 44,055 packages of edible cooking oil, tomato paste and spaghetti.
Customs officials estimate the tax component tied to the shipment at over GH¢85 million, underscoring the potential revenue implications if the goods had entered the domestic market outside formal clearance channels.
Eleven of the intercepted trucks have been transferred to the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority Transit Terminal and placed under strict Customs supervision, with logistical support from the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority.
One truck developed a mechanical fault during the operation, and arrangements are underway to transfer its contents to another vehicle to secure the cargo.
The focus has now shifted to locating the six outstanding trucks.
Deputy Minister of Finance, Thomas Nyarko Ampem, described the development as a serious matter with material revenue implications.
He said investigations are ongoing to identify the missing trucks and determine the circumstances under which the consignment exited the Customs system.
“I’ve asked the Commissioner-General to conclude investigations in one week. We are tracking the two Customs officers who were involved,” he said, adding that the potential revenue loss makes the case a priority.
The involvement of two Customs officers has introduced an internal accountability dimension to the case.
Authorities have not disclosed details of their specific roles but indicated that disciplinary and legal processes would follow if wrongdoing is established.
Commissioner-General of the Ghana Revenue Authority Anthony Kwasi Sarpong warned that the agency would apply the full rigours of the law against any individuals or businesses found culpable.
“We will apply the law of confiscation. The full arms of the law will be applied,” he said, cautioning traders to comply fully with Customs requirements.
The case comes at a time when revenue mobilisation remains central to Ghana’s fiscal consolidation efforts.
Customs duties constitute a significant portion of domestic revenue, and transit diversion schemes can undermine both tax collection and trade integrity.
Under Ghana’s transit framework, goods declared for onward movement to landlocked countries are exempt from local duties, provided they exit the country under supervision.
Any diversion into the domestic market without proper clearance results in revenue loss and potential penalties, including seizure and forfeiture.
The fact that all 18 trucks were electronically gated out of the system has prompted scrutiny of procedural safeguards within the transit monitoring process.
Officials have not indicated whether digital controls were circumvented or whether operational lapses enabled the breach.
For now, enforcement teams are concentrating on tracing the missing vehicles, amid concerns that delays could complicate recovery efforts if the goods are redistributed.
Authorities say further updates will be provided once investigations are concluded.
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