The Food and Beverages Association of Ghana (FABAG) is urging the government to extend the recently introduced transit restrictions on selected goods to cover fruit juices and similar products, warning that failing to do so could create new loopholes for smugglers.
The call follows a directive by Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson banning the movement of certain transit goods into Ghana through land borders and requiring them to enter through the country’s seaports.
While FABAG has already praised the directive as a bold step toward tackling smuggling and revenue leakages, the association believes more products should be included to prevent traders from exploiting gaps in the policy.
According to the group, there is a strong possibility that some traders may attempt to bypass the restrictions by deliberately misclassifying prohibited items under other product categories.
FABAG says fruit juices and similar goods are particularly vulnerable to such manipulation, as traders may label them differently in order to move them across land borders without proper scrutiny.
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“FABAG further advises the government to consider extending the directive to cover additional goods, including fruit juices and other similar products. There is a strong likelihood that some unscrupulous traders may attempt to circumvent the directive by deliberately misclassifying restricted products under other categories in order to evade the new controls,” the statement indicated.
For years, industry players say Ghana has struggled with the abuse of the transit trade regime, where goods declared as cargo meant for neighboring countries are illegally diverted into the local market without paying the required duties.
These practices, FABAG argues, have deprived the state of significant revenue while also distorting competition within the market.
Local manufacturers and legitimate importers often find themselves competing with smuggled products that enter the country at lower prices because they bypass taxes and regulatory requirements.
The association believes broadening the scope of the directive will strengthen efforts to restore discipline and transparency within Ghana’s trade and customs systems.
FABAG therefore called on authorities, including the Ghana Revenue Authority and the Ghana Customs Division, to remain vigilant and enforce the policy strictly.
