The Ministry of Finance has issued a warning against any attempts to undermine a new artificial intelligence-powered customs system due to be rolled out at Ghana’s ports next month.
Speaking at the 2026 International Customs Day celebration in Accra on 26 January, the Deputy Minister of Finance, Thomas Ampem Nyarko, said the government would adopt a zero-tolerance approach to any form of sabotage.
“Government is keen to ensure that the system is deployed without obstruction,” he told customs officers, urging them to fully support the initiative to guarantee its success.
The Deputy Minister announced that the platform, known as the Publican AI Trade Solution, is scheduled to go live on 1 February 2026.
According to him, the system is designed to address long-standing weaknesses in customs processing by automatically inspecting shipment documents against global trade data. This, he said, would significantly reduce opportunities for manual manipulation in valuation and classification.
Mr Nyarko said, “The new system aims to bridge this gap by cutting duty assessment times from about two hours to just five minutes,” adding that it would also improve accuracy and transparency in revenue collection.
Meanwhile, Ghana has for years been working to modernise customs operations as part of broader efforts to curb revenue leakages at the ports, which account for a significant portion of government income. Authorities have repeatedly raised concerns about under-declaration, misclassification of goods and delays in clearance processes.
The introduction of artificial intelligence into customs management forms part of a wider digitalisation agenda aimed at strengthening domestic revenue mobilisation and reducing reliance on borrowing. Officials believe the new system could play a key role in improving efficiency and boosting public confidence in port operations.
By Coffie Mawuedem Noel
