Customs must tighten inspections, not just revenue — Vehicle dealers
By Rebecca Okine
The Executive Secretary of the Vehicle and Assets Dealers Union of Ghana (VADUG), Frank Atanley Kofigah, has called on the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) to strengthen vehicle checks at the ports rather than focusing solely on revenue generation.
His comments follow recent reports of about 100 stolen vehicles from the United States finding their way into Ghana, raising concerns about gaps in port surveillance and verification systems.
Mr Kofigah stressed that Customs must take its preventive role more seriously to curb the influx of stolen vehicles.
“The Customs should be up to their task; they shouldn’t only think about revenue and meeting targets,” he said.
Mr Kofigah warned that failure to prioritise thorough checks at the ports only shifts the burden onto innocent consumers and car dealers.
“Now the consumers are suffering, and the car dealers are being blamed, but the syndicates or cartels behind this are nowhere to be found,” he noted.
According to the Executive Secretary of VADUG, Customs remains the first point of verification and must ensure that all vehicles are properly screened before clearance.
He argued that the thefts occur outside Ghana, making it unfair to hold local dealers accountable once cars arrive with Customs-approved documentation.
“What we are saying is that the Customs Divisions of the GRA are the gatekeepers. These vehicles should not get into the country in the first place because the theft did not happen here,” Mr Kofigah explained.
He emphasised that vehicle dealers rely entirely on Customs systems to confirm legitimacy and cannot be held responsible for stolen cars entering the market.
“We as a Union cannot do that check; the only agency mandated with that oversight responsibility is Customs,” Mr Kofigah added.
