Govt bans land transit of cooking oil; directs consignments through seaports

The government has announced a ban on the land transit of cooking oil through Ghana’s borders, ordering that all consignments must henceforth be routed exclusively through the country’s seaports.

The directive, issued by the Finance Minister, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, follows the recent interception of eighteen articulated trucks declared for transit to Niger but suspected to be part of a broader diversion scheme.

Under the new measure, cooking oil consigned for onward transit to landlocked countries will no longer be allowed to move through land border collection points. Instead, all shipments must pass through Ghana’s seaports, where stricter valuation systems, electronic tracking, scanning infrastructure, and layered customs controls are operational.

Authorities say the move is aimed at closing loopholes that have exposed the state to significant revenue losses. Post-interception examinations revealed discrepancies in declared unit values, tariff classifications, and weights, revising the estimated revenue exposure from GH¢2.6 million to over GH¢85 million.

In addition, the Minister has instructed the Ghana Revenue Authority to implement enhanced monitoring and strict compliance enforcement at all land collection points. Measures include intensified cargo tracking, reinforced escort protocols, and tighter supervisory oversight.

Dr. Ato Forson has also directed prompt disciplinary proceedings against Customs officers found complicit in similar breaches, with criminal investigations extending to importers and clearing agents where evidence supports prosecution.

Officials emphasised that the measures are intended not only to protect state revenue but also to safeguard local edible oil producers from unfair competition arising from diverted transit goods.

The government reaffirmed its commitment to applying the full rigour of the law, including confiscation and auction of impounded goods where applicable, to ensure that Ghana’s customs regime is not exploited to undermine domestic revenue mobilisation and national development.