GRA Launches AI to Combat Import Fraud from February 1

From February 1, the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) will begin implementing an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered system to improve and facilitate import clearance at the country’s entry points, starting with the Tema Port.

The rollout of the AI-powered Publican Trade Solution is expected to boost customs revenue by 40 to 45 per cent while significantly enhancing speed, efficiency, and transparency in cargo processing.

According to the Deputy Minister of Finance, Thomas Nyarko Ampem, the Integrated Customs Management System introduced in June 2020 was designed to harmonise cross-border trade processes, reduce transaction costs, and improve domestic revenue mobilisation.

However, persistent challenges, such as undervaluation, misclassification, smuggling and falsification of trade data, continued to undermine customs controls, necessitating the need for an advanced, technology-driven inspection and analytics framework to strengthen compliance and close revenue leakages at the ports.

The Commissioner-General of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Anthony Kwasi Sarpong, stated that the introduction of an AI-powered trade data analytics system would mark a significant shift in the authority’s approach to revenue assurance and customs compliance.

The new system will inspect every shipment document in real time, cross-check declarations with reliable global data sources, and flag high-risk or fraudulent transactions within minutes, Mr Ampem stated.

He assured importers and freight forwarders that the technology would not delay cargo clearance or impose additional costs on legitimate businesses.

The Commissioner-General stated that the GRA was committed to ensuring the deployment of the technology would be transparent, fair, and business-friendly, particularly for compliant importers.

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