Collins Sefa The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) is turning to artificial intelligence to close long-standing leakages in Customs revenue, following pilot tests that showed the technology could increase collections by as much as 45 percent by tightening controls on undervaluation and misclassification of imports.
The move follows revelations in the 2026 Budget Statement, which exposed extensive abuse of Import Declaration Forms (IDFs). Between April 2020 and August 2025, more than 525,000 transactions valued at approximately US$83 billion passed through Ghana’s Customs system. However, only a fraction of these transactions were linked to actual imports.
Audits revealed that about US$31 billion was transferred abroad without corresponding goods entering the country, draining foreign exchange reserves and putting pressure on the cedi. In addition, importers were found to have under-declared goods worth an estimated GH¢76 billion, resulting in revenue losses of roughly GH¢11 billion. Some commercial banks were also cited for processing inflated foreign transfers in breach of Bank of Ghana limits.
Commissioner-General of the GRA, Anthony Sarpong, said the decision to roll out the AI solution followed months of negotiations with the service provider, as well as extensive proof-of-concept and pilot testing.
“We’ve gone through a very rigorous negotiation with the service providers, and we believe the cost to the state represents value for money,” Mr. Sarpong said. “From the samples tested during the pilot, Customs revenues increased between 40 percent and 45 percent. That level of impact justifies the deployment of this tool.”
The authority plans to integrate an AI-powered trade analytics system with the Integrated Customs Management System (ICUMS), which has been the backbone of Customs operations at ports, airports, and land borders for more than five years.
Officials say the new layer is designed to address weaknesses that persist despite earlier digital reforms—particularly the heavy reliance on human discretion in classifying goods and assessing duties.
According to Mr. Sarpong, the technology will also address frequent complaints from importers about inconsistent duty assessments.
“If two people bring the same vehicle, discretion in the process can result in one paying less duty than the other,” he explained. “With AI, assessments are standardised. It ensures parity, accuracy, and fairness in duty determination.”
Efficiency gains are another key driver of the reform. The GRA estimates that a comprehensive Customs assessment can currently take up to two hours, especially for complex classifications. With AI support, that process could be reduced to minutes.
“The AI can generate an advanced assessment within five minutes,” Mr. Sarpong said. “What normally takes officers hours to analyse can now be supported almost instantly, improving speed without compromising scrutiny.”
Concerns have been raised by importers over whether the cost of the new system would be passed on through additional fees or levies. Both the GRA and the Ministry of Finance have moved to allay those fears.
“Government is clear that the cost of implementing this software will not be passed on to importers,” Mr. Sarpong said. “Any new levy would require parliamentary approval, and no such policy has been submitted. There will be no extra charges.”
The service provider, which has received parliamentary approval, operates through an investment entity registered in Cyprus—a detail officials say has already undergone legislative scrutiny.
Finance authorities describe the initiative as part of a broader strategy to strengthen domestic revenue mobilisation without increasing tax rates. Deputy Finance Minister Thomas Nyarko Ampem said the AI system—known as Publican Trade Solution—has already been deployed in more than 20 countries to enhance Customs controls while facilitating legitimate trade.
Pilot data from the Ministry of Finance show the system detected misclassification and undervaluation in 18 out of 43 randomly selected transactions. Subsequent reviews of five companies linked to those cases resulted in the recovery of approximately GH¢15 million in additional revenue.
Beyond revenue gains, officials say the technology will enhance Customs’ ability to respond to increasingly sophisticated smuggling techniques. By integrating data across agencies and borders, the AI system can flag high-risk transactions that might otherwise escape manual checks, strengthening enforcement while supporting trade facilitation.
