By Laudia Anyorkor Nunoo, GNA
Accra, Aug. 28, GNA – The Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana (IEAG) says the Publican Artificial Intelligence (AI) Trade Solution, has increased assessed customs collections by more than US$300 million since its implementation at Ghana’s ports.
The Association said the system, which became fully operational on March 12, 2026, had also helped reduce human discretion in customs valuation and improved consistency in the assessment of imported goods.
Mr Samson Asaki Awingobit, the Executive Secretary of the IEAG, at a press conference said the association supported the system because of its potential to reduce revenue leakages arising from under-valuation, misclassification and false declarations.
Mr Awingobit noted that figures cited in the 2026 Mid-Year Budget Review showed that between the pilot phase and July 17, the system had increased assessed customs collections by more than US$300 million, representing a 17.5 per cent increase over values originally declared by importers.
He said about 366,000 import declarations had been analysed, while approximately 24 per cent triggered valuation of risk indicators requiring further review.
He stated that in March alone, assessed customs collections increased by about US$73.44 million, representing a 25.7 per cent uplift.
The Executive Secretary added that the figures demonstrated the potential of technology to improve domestic revenue mobilisation without necessarily introducing new taxes.
He said the technology-driven valuation process could also provide greater fairness and predictability for compliant importers, by relying on verified trade data, global price intelligence and risk indicators.
Previously, identical goods imported by different traders could sometimes attract different duty assessments depending on the officer handling the transaction, however, the challenges remained, particularly delays in resolving valuation disputes and fluctuations in duty assessments for similar consignments, he said.
He therefore called for a stronger and time-bound appeal process to prevent unnecessary demurrage and disruption to businesses.
The IEAG also urged the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) to continuously calibrate its valuation database, deepen stakeholder engagement and provide regular training for Customs officers, freight forwarders and clearing agents.
It further recommended the integration of more international pricing databases and regular publication of Publican AI implementation performance reports.
Mr Awingobit said the Association’s continued support for the system was conditioned on the efforts to improve its efficiency, transparency and responsiveness.
GNA
Edited by Christabel Addo
Reporter: Laudia Anyorkor Nunoo, GNA
[email protected]