Deputy Minister for Finance Thomas Nyarko Ampem has alleged that some officers within the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) are colluding with importers to undervalue goods, resulting in significant revenue losses to the state.
His remarks follow the interception of 18 articulated trucks at the Akanu and Aflao border posts on February 18, 2026. The vehicles, which had been declared as carrying goods in transit to Niger, were transporting assorted items including cooking oil, spaghetti and tomato paste. Customs officials flagged the consignments over suspected irregularities.
Preliminary findings indicate that the trucks were moving without the required customs human escort — a major violation of established transit procedures. Authorities estimate the consignments could represent potential lost revenue of about GH¢85.3 million, with an initial assessment valued at GH¢2.62 million.
Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show on Monday, February 23, 2026, Mr Nyarko Ampem said concerns about customs officers assisting importers to manipulate declarations have persisted for some time. He disclosed that although officers had been assigned to escort the goods across the country, the two officials booked for the task were absent when the trucks were intercepted.
According to him, internal monitoring had already been underway prior to the seizure.
“The customs have been tracking them. I have seen a letter that one of the officers wrote to the Aflao border, not to allow those goods to come in. This means that it is something that has been happening and they have been monitoring it for a while,” he said.
The Deputy Minister acknowledged that while many customs officers act professionally, a minority engage in misconduct by collaborating with importers to defraud the state through practices such as undervaluation and diversion of goods.
“There are some bad nuts in customs who are aiding importers to defraud the nation. So, when the good ones realised it, they decided to act,” he stated.
He further revealed that the officers assigned to escort the trucks later offered varying explanations when questioned about their absence, prompting the Finance Minister to order a full investigation into the incident.
Mr Nyarko Ampem stressed that government remains committed to tackling revenue leakages at the country’s borders, particularly under-declaration and undervaluation practices that weaken domestic revenue mobilisation.
He assured that any officers found culpable would face the full force of the law as part of ongoing reforms to strengthen customs enforcement and protect national revenue.
