Finance Minister Bans Land Transit of Cooking Oil
The Ministry of Finance has banned the land transit of cooking oil following an observed abuse of transit operations.
In a statement, it directed such consignments to be routed exclusively through Ghana’s seaports.
In addition, the Ministry said all transactions originating from land collection points will be subjected to enhanced monitoring, tracking, and strict compliance enforcement to safeguard state revenue.
It also plans to promptly implement disciplinary measures and legal prosecution of Customs officers found culpable of such abuses.
“Government remains resolute in safeguarding local industry and jobs, while ensuring that Ghana’s customs regime is not exploited to undermine domestic revenue mobilisation and national development.”
Background
The Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) last week intercepted 12 articulated trucks loaded with 44,055 packages of edible cooking oil, tomato paste and spaghetti with an estimated actual tax value of about GH¢85 million along the Dawhenya–Tema Road.
The 12 trucks are believed to be part of a consignment of 18 articulated trucks that had been electronically gated out of the Customs system as transit goods and declared as goods in transit from Akanu, destined for Niger through Kulungugu.
However, the trucks were intercepted while moving without the mandatory Customs human escort, in breach of Ghana’s transit procedures.
Investigation is ongoing to identify the six outstanding trucks.
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