The Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) will from February 1, 2026, begin implementing an artificial intelligence-powered system to strengthen import clearance and curb fraud at Ghana’s ports, starting with the Tema Port.
The new system, known as the Publican Trade Solution, is expected to significantly improve the speed, efficiency, and transparency of cargo processing, while boosting customs revenue by an estimated 40 to 45 per cent.
The AI-powered platform is also designed to address long-standing abuses linked to the use of Import Declaration Forms (IDFs).
According to the 2026 Budget, between April 2020 and August 2025, over 525,000 IDF transactions, valued at about 83 billion dollars, were processed through the Integrated Customs Management System, ICUMS. However, only 10,440 of these transactions were tied to actual imports.
During the same period, an estimated 31 billion dollars was transferred abroad without corresponding goods, while under-declared imports worth about 76 billion cedis led to an estimated 11 billion cedis loss in potential government revenue.
To curb these malpractices, the new AI system will integrate customs and international trade data to allow real-time analysis, supporting accurate valuation, improved risk profiling, and informed decision-making by customs officers.
The system is expected to detect under-valuation, misclassification, and other trade-related infractions without imposing additional costs on importers.
Overall, the GRA says the initiative will facilitate legitimate trade, protect government revenue, and will not lead to an increase in the cost of importing goods.