The Ghana Union of Traders Associations (GUTA) has called for a nationwide halt in duty payments and import activity, escalating pressure on the government over disruptions linked to a new customs processing system known as Publican AI.
In a statement signed by its president, Clement Boateng, the traders’ group said it was taking the step after engagements with authorities failed to resolve concerns about the system’s implementation.
The association directed freight forwarders and clearing agents to stop paying duties and suspend operations from April 13 to April 17. It also advised members to temporarily halt all importation until “clarity and predictability are restored.”
The protest follows complaints from traders nationwide over what GUTA described as an increasingly difficult operating environment under the system. The group cited “unpredictable and excessively high duty assessments,” prolonged cargo clearance delays, and rising demurrage and rent charges.
It also pointed to “the near absence of an effective and accessible system for resolving valuation disputes,” warning that the situation is threatening business continuity.
“These conditions have created an unsustainable trading environment and pose a serious threat to business continuity,” the statement said. GUTA is calling for the immediate suspension of the Publican AI system “in its current form” and a comprehensive review of how it is being applied.
The group urged the government to act quickly to “restore confidence, stability, and fairness within Ghana’s trade regime,” signaling potential broader disruption to supply chains if the standoff persists. The development underscores mounting tensions between traders and authorities over efforts to digitize and tighten customs processes, at a time when businesses are already grappling with high costs and currency pressures.
