By Laudia Anyorkor Nunoo, GNA
Tema, Sept. 09, GNA – The Tema District Council of the Maritime and Dockworkers’ Union of Ghana (MDU-GH) has cautioned the Acting Commissioner of Customs, Mr Aaron Kanu, against any blanket policy that automatically treats travelers carrying multiple mobile phones as commercial importers.
The Council said the number of mobile phones carried by a traveler should not, on its own, be regarded as evidence of commercial intent, stressing the need for Customs to consider the purpose, ownership and circumstances surrounding the items before classifying them as commercial imports.
In a statement signed by Mr Emmanuel Arhin, the Chairman-Elect, the Council said it supported national development, lawful revenue mobilisation and the mandate of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) to protect the country’s revenue.
It, however, stated that respect for the authority of Customs should not prevent organised labour and citizens from raising concerns about policies or public pronouncements that could create unnecessary hardship.
The Council was reacting to recent comments attributed to Mr Kanu concerning travelers entering Ghana with multiple mobile phones and a suggestion that phones exceeding a certain number could automatically be treated as commercial imports and subjected to customs procedures.
The MDU-GH said a Ghanaian returning from abroad could legitimately carry several phones intended as gifts for a spouse, children, parents, siblings or other family members.
It noted that travelers might also return home for occasions such as Christmas, weddings, funerals, birthdays, and family gatherings, during which they could bring gifts for relatives.
“Quantity may raise a question, but quantity alone should not become evidence of commercial intent,” the Council noted, adding that Customs should consider the purpose, ownership, circumstances and available evidence before classifying goods as commercial imports.
The MDU-GH further urged Customs to focus its revenue enforcement efforts on what it described as major sources of revenue leakages, including large-scale smuggling, under-invoicing, false declarations, misclassification of goods, deliberate customs evasion, weaknesses in cargo monitoring and fraudulent documentation.
It said an excessively rigid approach to multiple mobile phones could place additional financial pressure on workers, families and Ghanaians living abroad, particularly at a time when citizens were already facing economic challenges.
The MDU-GH Tema District Council called on the Acting Commissioner and the GRA to publicly clarify the rules, thresholds and procedures applicable to travelers carrying multiple phones.
It also urged Customs to distinguish between genuine commercial importation and legitimate personal or family belongings and to engage organised labour and other affected stakeholders before implementing measures with significant consequences for citizens.
The MDU-GH further called for professionalism, fairness and sound judgement by Customs officers when dealing with travelers.
It said its position was not an attack on Customs or opposition to revenue mobilisation and enforcement, but a call for fairness and transparency.
“We are not against revenue mobilisation. We are not against enforcement. We are against unfairness and blanket assumptions,” the statement said.
The Council said it would continue to monitor the implementation and practical consequences of any such policy and would raise concerns through the appropriate channels where it identified unfair treatment, unnecessary hardship or abuse of discretion.
GNA
Edited by Christabel Addo
Reporter: Laudia Anyorkor Nunoo, GNA
[email protected]