Ghana’s Finance Minister, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has announced an aggressive intervention to tackle what he described as “massive revenue leakages” at the Tema Port—Ghana’s busiest port of entry.
Speaking in a post-budget review interview after presenting the 2025 Mid-Year Budget Review to Parliament, Dr. Forson expressed grave concern over the underperformance of customs revenue, despite favourable economic indicators.
Dr. Forson revealed that while Ghana’s domestic revenue performance is strong and meeting expectations, the international trade segment, particularly customs revenue at Tema Port, is failing to meet targets.
“We’ve seen, yes, the Cedi has appreciated. We’ve also seen an increase in volumes. So the increase in volume should be able to offset the appreciation. Even if it doesn’t offset it one to one, it shouldn’t be the levels we are seeing.”
Ghana’s Finance Minister, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson
The Finance Minister disclosed that the country is witnessing a significant shortfall in customs revenue to the tune of nearly GH¢1.6 billion. This, he said, is alarming given the rise in trade volumes and relative currency stability.
“So we are seeing a sharp decline, almost GH¢1,600,000,000 of revenue leakages. So the domestic side of revenue is doing extremely well and it is covering up for customs, but they can’t always be covering up for customs”.
Ghana’s Finance Minister, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson
According to Dr. Forson, customs—responsible for collecting duties and taxes at Ghana’s ports of entry—must meet its obligations, especially at a time when international trade volumes are growing.
“Customs is supposed to do well. International trade is supposed to be doing well and revenue is supposed to be coming in,” he emphasised, adding that the underperformance calls for urgent corrective measures.
To address the situation, Dr. Forson hinted at launching a human resource audit of the customs operations at the Tema Port, rather than a full financial audit. He suggested that personnel deployment and oversight at the port may be contributing to the problem.
“In the coming days, I think I may end up relocating my office to the Tema Port. It may have to get to that for us to be able to see what is happening, and to be able to stop the huge revenue leakages”.
Ghana’s Finance Minister, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson
More Smuggling at Ghana-Togo Border
Beyond the port itself, the Finance Minister also pointed to smuggling as a serious threat to the country’s revenue mobilisation efforts. He specifically cited the Togo-Ghana border as a hotspot for illegal imports that undermine the local economy.
“We see the main border post, seeing a lot of smuggling into the country; places like Sankasi in the further part of the Upper East… where a lot of smuggling from the Togo Port is entering through Ghana”.
Ghana’s Finance Minister, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson
The smuggling, Dr. Forson warned, has broader economic consequences beyond revenue loss. He described how the influx of smuggled goods, especially edible oils from Togo, is putting pressure on local manufacturers.
“For example, we have a lot of companies producing oil palm in Ghana but this oil is now coming from Togo, imported oil. We are losing revenue, and because of the smuggling, the Ghanaian companies are shutting down, and they are leaving Tema.”
Ghana’s Finance Minister, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson
The ripple effects, he added, are being felt in job losses and reduced industrial activity. “So what happens to you? The people are not getting to it,” he asked rhetorically, underscoring the urgency of the issue.
To combat this, Dr. Forson announced plans to strengthen the preventive wing of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) to clamp down on smuggling routes and increase surveillance at the country’s ports and borders.
His remarks signal a new sense of urgency from the Finance Ministry to ensure that customs lives up to its role in national revenue mobilisation.
Dr. Forson’s tough stance also reflects growing frustration with systemic inefficiencies and possible corruption within the port system, which continue to undermine the country’s ability to mobilise domestic resources to support development.
With a relocation of his office to the Tema Port on the table and the looming human resource audit of customs operations, Dr. Forson’s declaration may mark the beginning of a significant policy shift aimed at plugging fiscal leakages and safeguarding Ghana’s economic future.
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