The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has interdicted five customs officers pending an internal investigation into alleged breaches of transit procedures involving a consignment of cargo. The decision follows preliminary findings from an enforcement operation linked to a consignment of transit cargo that was declared for onward movement to Niger.
Initial inspections found documentation inconsistencies and potential violations of established customs transit protocols, the GRA said. The investigation is expected to determine the extent of individual involvement and any departures from protocol. Officials say that after the procedure is finished, more administrative action will be taken. The operation that triggered the investigation was carried out between 10:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. It was led by the Deputy Commissioner for Operations with support from the Chief Revenue Officer for Preventive at the Tema Collection, the National Security Revenue Mobilisation Taskforce, and enforcement officers from the Tema Collection and Customs Headquarters.
However, the trucks were found travelling without the required customs escort, which is a breach of Ghana’s transit regulations. The vehicles, intercepted at different locations last week while reportedly heading to landlocked countries, were carrying cooking oil, spaghetti, tomato paste, rice, and sugar.
The GRA says the investigation will determine the full facts, including any individual involvement and departures from customs protocols. It added that additional officers may be invited to assist with the investigation if necessary. The authority says appropriate administrative action will be taken once the investigation is completed.
