Ghana will implement artificial intelligence tools and border surveillance systems to address a GH¢1.6 billion customs revenue shortfall recorded in the first half of 2025.
Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson disclosed the 12.7% deficit during Thursday’s Mid-Year Budget Review, attributing it to widespread smuggling and “systemic leakages” at key entry points including Tema Port.
According to the Minister, the four-part strategy will deploy AI to validate import classifications and country-of-origin documentation, minimizing human discretion in valuation processes. An Advanced Cargo Information system will require pre-arrival shipment manifests at least 24 hours before vessels depart origin ports, enabling earlier risk assessments and reduced documentation fraud.
The government will establish enhanced anti-smuggling surveillance across inland and maritime borders while restructuring Customs Division operations through staff rotations and decentralization. Forson emphasized these measures are critical for Ghana’s IMF program compliance and fiscal consolidation, noting customs underperformance “poses risks” to overall revenue targets.
“Addressing these structural inefficiencies is non-negotiable for sustaining macroeconomic gains,” Forson told Parliament. The reforms aim to curb illicit trade that undermined revenue despite Ghana’s broader economic recovery trends.
