The Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders (GIF) has called on the Minister of Finance to undertake an urgent, evidence-based review of recent truck policy actions following an enforcement episode linked to Bill of Entry 80226125039.
The Institute said policy decisions affecting transit trade must be guided by verified facts to safeguard government revenue while preserving Ghana’s reputation as a preferred transit hub in the sub-region.
The call follows media reports, including a front-page publication by the Daily Graphic, which claimed that 18 trucks in transit had been diverted. However, officials and the Institute have clarified that the reports did not accurately reflect the situation.
According to GIF, all 18 trucks remained electronically visible within the tracking system, and the six trucks initially reported missing were subsequently traced and verified. The Institute explained that any route diversions occurred strictly as part of enforcement-led procedures that directed the trucks to a transit yard outside the main trade corridor. It stressed that the electronic tracking system functioned as designed.
Speaking on behalf of the Institute, the General Secretary cautioned against policy reactions based on incomplete information, warning that broad restrictions on transit trucks could unintentionally disrupt trade flows.
He noted that freight operators choose corridors based on port costs, cargo dwell times, and procedural efficiency — key factors recognized under international trade practices. Any measures that undermine these advantages, he said, could weaken Ghana’s competitiveness.
GIF further identified areas requiring targeted reforms, including ensuring consistency in escort policies, reviewing transit bond adequacy, enhancing route monitoring, and strengthening post-clearance reconciliation processes. The Institute recommended that these concerns be addressed through intelligent, risk-based controls rather than blanket restrictions on commodities.
The Institute also highlighted potential strategic risks, cautioning that stricter restrictions could redirect Sahel-bound cargo to competing ports in the region, thereby reducing customs revenue and affecting Ghana’s leadership in regional transit trade.
To protect Ghana’s trade position, GIF proposed a balanced reform package that includes risk-tiered export goodwill arrangements, real-time tracking dashboards and position charts, strengthened transit bond reviews, the establishment of a joint Customs–Ghana Link anomaly review cell, and the application of targeted sanctions to improve compliance.
The Institute additionally called for an independent technical investigation into the incident and urged national stakeholder engagement to ensure clarity and transparency in policy interpretation and enforcement.
President of GIF, Stephen Adjokatcher, emphasized that the Institute’s press briefing was not an attack on the government but rather an effort to clarify the facts.
“No cargo was diverted,” he stressed, urging sections of the media to exercise responsibility in reporting trade-related matters.
GIF reaffirmed that enforcement credibility and policy interpretation must move in tandem, insisting that its appeal to the Finance Minister is grounded in the need for evidence-driven policy measures that both protect state revenue and preserve Ghana’s hard-earned transit leadership.
