The Traders Advocacy Group Ghana (TAGG) has raised serious concerns over Parliament’s approval of an agreement between the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and TRUEDARE Investments Limited for the deployment of a digital customs tracking and Artificial Intelligence based audit system.
At the heart of TAGG’s objections is the official claim that the agreement will come at no additional cost to the state, a position the group describes as misleading and economically unrealistic.
In a statement signed by its leadership, TAGG argued that any new trade facilitation system introduced at the ports inevitably carries costs that are transferred along the supply chain. According to the group, traders and consumers ultimately bear these costs, regardless of how the agreement is structured on paper.
TAGG insists that assurances of a cost free arrangement fail to reflect the realities of port operations. The group explained that even when the state does not make direct payments, charges are often embedded in processing fees, compliance requirements or operational adjustments imposed on importers and exporters.
“These costs do not disappear simply because the government does not write a cheque,” the statement noted. TAGG warned that additional charges, whether explicit or indirect, would increase the cost of doing business at the ports. Over time, this would translate into higher prices for goods and services across the country, placing additional pressure on households already grappling with rising living costs.
Questions over duplication of systems
A major point of contention for TAGG is the justification for introducing a new digital customs system when the Integrated Customs Management System, ICUMS, has been operational since 2020. The group noted that ICUMS already performs core customs functions, including cargo tracking, risk profiling and post clearance audits.
TAGG questioned why a parallel system is being proposed instead of upgrading or optimising the existing platform. According to the group, the introduction of multiple systems risks operational inefficiencies, increased compliance burdens and confusion among traders.
If the government believes ICUMS has significant shortcomings, TAGG argued that such claims should be supported by publicly available and independent technical assessments. Announcing alleged gaps without releasing evidence, the group said, undermines transparency and accountability in public procurement.
Transparency and accountability concerns
TAGG’s statement emphasised the need for openness in decisions involving sensitive national digital infrastructure. Customs systems, the group noted, sit at the heart of revenue mobilisation, trade facilitation and national security. As such, any major changes require rigorous scrutiny.
The group expressed concern that Parliament approved the agreement without full public disclosure of the technical evaluations that informed the decision. TAGG warned that opaque contracts and limited stakeholder engagement could erode trust in ongoing customs reforms.
“Transparency is not optional in matters of this scale,” the statement said, adding that the absence of independent reviews raises questions about value for money and long term sustainability.
Scrutiny of TRUEDARE Investments Limited
TAGG also raised red flags about TRUEDARE Investments Limited, the company selected to implement the new system. According to the group’s checks, the company was incorporated in Cyprus in December 2024 and has minimal stated capital.
More importantly, TAGG said it could not find publicly verifiable evidence that the firm has a track record in delivering large scale customs IT systems, Artificial Intelligence driven audits or container tracking technologies. Assigning a sensitive national digital function to a newly established offshore entity, the group argued, carries significant risk.
TAGG called for full disclosure of the company’s ownership structure, technical capacity and the criteria used in selecting it for the project. Without this information, the group warned, it is difficult for stakeholders to assess whether the agreement serves Ghana’s long term interests.
Call for independent review and stakeholder engagement
In response to these concerns, TAGG is calling for the full publication of the GRA–TRUEDARE contract. The group also wants an independent value for money and technical review of both ICUMS and the proposed TRUEDARE system.
Such a review, TAGG argued, would provide an objective basis for determining whether a new system is necessary and whether it offers clear advantages over existing infrastructure. The group further demanded clear disclosure of who will ultimately bear the costs associated with the agreement.
TAGG President David Kwadwo Amoateng urged the government to suspend implementation of the deal until broader consultations are held with traders, industry players and other stakeholders. “There is no Father Christmas in customs; someone always pays,” he said, stressing that policy decisions at the ports have economy wide implications.
TAGG warned that undisclosed fees and poorly explained reforms risk undermining the gains made in customs modernisation over recent years. Traders, the group said, could face higher operating costs, longer clearance times and increased uncertainty.
For consumers, the implications are equally serious. Higher import and export costs often feed directly into prices, affecting everything from food items to manufactured goods. TAGG cautioned that without transparency and accountability, the agreement could worsen inflationary pressures rather than improve efficiency.
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