Gov’t Bans Land Transit of Cooking Oil Over Revenue Leak Fears

Government has imposed an immediate ban on the land transit of cooking oil through Ghana’s borders, directing that all such consignments be routed exclusively through the country’s seaports.

The directive, issued by the Minister for Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, follows the interception of eighteen articulated trucks declared for transit to Niger but suspected to be part of a wider transit diversion scheme.

Under the new policy, cooking oil consignments entering Ghana for onward shipment to landlocked countries will no longer be cleared at land border collection points. Instead, they must be processed solely through Ghana’s seaports, where stricter valuation regimes, electronic cargo tracking, scanning systems and layered customs controls are in place.

Authorities indicate that the decision seeks to plug loopholes in the transit system that have led to substantial revenue losses. Post-interception assessments in the recent case revealed significant discrepancies in declared unit values, tariff classifications and cargo weights. These findings revised the suspended revenue exposure from about GH¢2.6 million to more than GH¢85 million.

Beyond the prohibition, the Minister has instructed the Ghana Revenue Authority to intensify monitoring and enforce strict compliance for all transactions originating from land collection points. Measures will include enhanced cargo tracking, reinforced escort arrangements and tighter supervisory oversight.

The Minister further directed the immediate initiation of disciplinary action against any Customs officers found culpable in similar breaches. Criminal investigations are also to be extended to importers and clearing agents where evidence warrants prosecution.

Officials maintain that the measures are intended not only to safeguard state revenue but also to protect local edible oil producers from unfair competition resulting from diverted transit goods.

Government has reiterated its commitment to applying the full rigour of the law, including the confiscation and auctioning of impounded goods where necessary, to prevent abuse of Ghana’s customs regime and to strengthen domestic revenue mobilisation for national development.