Tax evasion has been one issue threatening Ghana’s domestic revenue mobilization efforts, and the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) is stepping up enforcement to stem the tide.
In a recent operation conducted in collaboration with the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) and the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA), GRA Customs intercepted and destroyed 850 cartons of Orexi brand diapers that had been illegally imported into the country.
The consignment, which entered Ghana without proper declaration, tax clearance, or product registration, was flagged during routine cargo checks. Authorities confirmed the items were unregistered, substandard, and constituted a breach of both health and tax regulations. The seized diapers were destroyed under strict supervision at the Korle Lagoon Klert dump site in Accra.
“This operation has not only protected public health but also prevented significant tax evasion and revenue loss to the state,” a GRA Customs official stated.
Officials stress that the impact of such illegal importation extends far beyond the health risks posed by substandard products. The fiscal cost to the nation is equally alarming.
“These illegal importations are not just a health risk, they represent direct economic sabotage. When importers smuggle goods and avoid duties, they deprive the nation of critical funds needed for infrastructure, healthcare, and education,” the official added.
This crackdown comes on the heels of a disturbing international exposé by China’s state broadcaster, CCTV News, in March 2025. The report revealed the reprocessing of used hygiene products, including diapers and sanitary pads, for shipment to developing countries like Ghana. The revelations have heightened public concern about the safety and integrity of imported goods entering local markets without oversight.
GRA Customs in response to the growing threat, has intensified its surveillance operations at both ports and inland borders.
Adding his voice to the national conversation on tax evasion, tax analyst and governance advocate John Kinyorbaan Gabulja, shared with The High Street Journal recently that “tax evasion, unethical accounting practices, and lack of transparency in tax administration are serious threats to Ghana’s economic development,” and called for a national dialogue to foster a culture of tax compliance and integrity.
He argued that without collective accountability, from both citizens and institutions, Ghana risks undermining its own development agenda. “We cannot build a resilient economy if people are incentivized to cheat the system while honest taxpayers bear the full burden,” Gabulja noted.
To curb such practices, importers and freight forwarders have been urged to adhere strictly to all tax and product registration procedures. Additionally, the public is being encouraged to report suspicious diaper brands, especially those sold at unusually low prices or lacking FDA approval markings.
The GRA maintains that the recent seizure should serve as a warning to smugglers and a reminder to the public that tax evasion undermines national development and endangers lives.
