The National Cross-Border Women Traders Association (NCBWTA) has strongly rejected claims by the Commissioner General of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Anthony Kwasi Sarpong, that cross-border women traders engage in under-declaration of goods.
The association emphasized its respect for Customs’ national mandate and highlighted the necessity of collaboration for effective border management.
In a statement, the NCBWTA asserted that small-scale women traders fully declare their goods by presenting them at the Customs yard for inspection and assessment by qualified officers. “Traders comply with the established process, enabling Customs to determine the correct taxes before releasing goods,” the statement said.
However, the association expressed concern over actions by certain members of the Preventive Task Force, who reportedly harass traders who have already paid duties. These actions, it said, create unnecessary trade barriers and violate World Customs Organization (WCO) and World Trade Organization (WTO) rules on transparency and non-duplication of controls.
The NCBWTA called on Customs to convene a stakeholder meeting within one week to finalize a proposal on sealing trucks transporting goods to market centers. This measure aims to prevent allegations that goods are “topped up” after release, ensuring a tamper-proof process benefiting both traders and Customs. The association noted the importance of this initiative, especially as AfCFTA and ECOWAS advance women’s participation in regional trade.
The group concluded by urging renewed cooperation between Customs and trader groups, highlighting that “constructive engagement, shared responsibility, and mutual respect” are key to enhancing revenue mobilization and border efficiency.
The NCBWTA voiced readiness to engage in multi-stakeholder dialogue to align border management with national and regional trade priorities.
Meanwhile, the GRA Boss insists that Customs initially relies on information provided by traders during the clearing processes. However, to ensure accuracy and prevent under-declaration, customs sometimes conducts random inspections to verify if the declared quantity matches the actual shipment.
“If the random check confirms the trader’s declaration, customs accepts it,” Mr. Sarpong explained. “But if it turns out that the actual quantity is higher, customs will reassess and levy the appropriate taxes on the additional quantity.”
He also highlighted that although customs often works with the declared quantity during clearance, ongoing checks along transit routes help detect discrepancies. “There are instances where a declared 100 bags of rice change to 150 or 200 during transit,” Mr. Sarpong noted. “This is where issues of under-declaration come into play, and appropriate action is taken.”
He concluded that GRA will continue to enforce stringent measures to ensure compliance with import declarations, aiming to protect government revenue and maintain transparency in trade.