The Food and Beverages Association of Ghana (FABAG) has called on government agencies to intensify enforcement efforts and adopt modern surveillance technologies to combat the growing menace of smuggling, which it says is costing the nation billions of cedis in lost revenue each month.
In a statement, the Association urged the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority, the Ministry of Trade and Industry, and the National Security agencies “to intensify enforcement efforts, deploy advanced surveillance technology, and foster stronger collaboration with border communities.”
FABAG warned that smuggling of key commodities such as rice, cooking oil, sugar, alcoholic beverages, and textiles has reached alarming levels, undermining legitimate businesses and depriving the government of critical tax income.
“It is disheartening that compliant businesses are subjected to rigorous tax regimes and levies while smugglers thrive unchecked,” the statement said. “This situation is a clear case of a double tragedy, honest traders are being unfairly penalized while criminal networks prosper.”
The Association estimates that Ghana is losing hundreds of millions of cedis every week due to unmonitored smuggling activities at both official and unofficial entry points, warning that the massive revenue drain “threatens the stability of our economy, diminishes investor confidence, erodes the Ghanaian cedi, and jeopardizes employment within our manufacturing and distribution sectors.”
FABAG said the government cannot afford to continue losing significant revenue while “burdening ordinary Ghanaians and businesses with additional electricity and water tariffs,” and called for urgent reforms to protect the economy.
“As the Ministry of Finance prepares to present the 2026 budget statement, we urge a thorough review of the current import tax regime,” FABAG added. “High import duties and complex port procedures have been identified as major drivers of smuggling, and reform is urgently needed.”
The Association concluded that the issue “transcends economics, it is a matter of national security and survival,” and called for immediate action “to protect our borders, bolster local industries, and secure the future of legitimate businesses before it’s too late.”
