The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has stated that the GH¢807.68 customs duty assessed on a passenger’s luggage at the Accra International Airport was duly accounted for, following allegations of extortion involving Customs officers.
In a statement dated October 9, 2026, the Authority said preliminary investigations into the incident involving Gifty Osei Bonsu revealed that a temporary system failure disrupted the payment process, preventing the immediate issuance of an official receipt.
According to the GRA, Ms Bonsu arrived in Ghana aboard an Egypt Air flight on October 3 and was referred for further examination after her luggage was selected for inspection at the Red Channel in the airport’s Arrivals Hall.
The inspection revealed 20 pairs of new women’s shoes, nine new women’s dresses, 18 new men’s shirts and four new wigs.
The Authority explained that Customs officers assessed a duty of GH¢807.68 on the 20 pairs of shoes. However, the Integrated Customs Management System (ICUMS) was temporarily unavailable, affecting the processing of the payment and the issuance of an official receipt.
The GRA said Ms Bonsu, who indicated that she had a flight to catch, initially deposited GH¢600 with the officers towards the payment. A friend subsequently paid an additional GH¢200, bringing the total amount collected to GH¢800.
According to the Authority, the system was restored after the passenger had left the airport, enabling the full assessed duty to be paid into the GRA’s revenue account at Ecobank Ghana Limited on the same day. An official receipt was subsequently generated in Ms Bonsu’s name.
The Authority further disclosed that the Customs officers used their personal funds to cover the GH¢7.68 difference between the amount collected and the assessed duty.
“The Authority wishes to assure the public that the transaction was undertaken in good faith and that the assessed duty was duly accounted for,” the statement said.
Despite explaining the circumstances surrounding the incident, the GRA acknowledged the delay in providing the service and apologised to Ms Bonsu for the inconvenience caused.
The Authority said it had introduced alternative procedures to facilitate passenger services during system interruptions. It also announced a review of the standard operating procedures governing Customs officers’ engagement with travellers at the country’s ports of entry.
The review will focus on professional communication, transparency in duty assessment and collection, and the proper documentation of transactions.
Additionally, the GRA said it was developing an improved passenger-facing process to provide clearer information on Customs requirements, the calculation and payment of duties, and the channels available to passengers seeking clarification, disputing assessments or lodging complaints.
The measures, the Authority said, are intended to improve service delivery, strengthen transparency and ensure that travellers receive clear information when dealing with Customs officers at Ghana’s entry points.
