The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has announced that Tema Port is now fully operational 24 hours a day, a move aimed at fast-tracking the clearance of goods, facilitating trade, and supporting the government’s industrialization agenda.
Speaking on JoyNews’ PM Express, GRA Commissioner-General Anthony Kwasi Sarpong explained that the port now operates with full integration of key agencies, including the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), and banking institutions. This “single-window” system allows all stakeholders to work together efficiently, ensuring smoother and faster processing of imports.
The Commissioner-General said the 24-hour operation is part of broader efforts to address long-standing challenges in customs revenue collection, including delays in classification and valuation of goods, disputes over country of origin, and smuggling.
To tackle these challenges, GRA plans to introduce technological solutions, including AI tools for faster and more accurate classification of goods and advanced cargo information systems that will provide pre-arrival manifests to reduce delays and disputes. Smuggling, which undermines revenue and affects local businesses by distorting market prices and threatening employment, will also be addressed through the planned deployment of wide-area satellite technology and strengthening of human resources at border points.
“The 24-hour operation at Tema Port is designed to facilitate trade, promote industrialization, and enhance domestic revenue collection,” Commissioner-General Sarpong said. He added that businesses can now file import documentation and pay duties online, eliminating the need for routine physical visits to the port.
In addition to these operational improvements, the Commissioner-General highlighted ongoing staff restructuring within GRA to ensure the right people are in the right roles to implement reforms effectively. Staff rotations every two to four years are being used to maintain efficiency, reduce complacency, and support modernization initiatives.
The 24-Hour Economy initiative, part of the government’s broader economic strategy, aims to boost economic activity, reduce delays at critical trade points, and create a predictable business environment for investors and traders. GRA’s efforts are positioned as a central component in ensuring the program’s success while protecting local industries and jobs.
