A storm is brewing in Ghana’s business community as the Traders Advocacy Group Ghana (TAGG) has leveled grave accusations of extortion against members of the Ghana Customs Division Task Force operating under the Ghana Revenue Authority in the Ashanti Region.
At a press conference in Accra, TAGG President David Kwadwo Amoateng painted a picture of a task force gone rogue. What began as an initiative to improve post-clearance checks and ensure fairness for importers, he claimed, has mutated into a machinery for systematic extortion. “Traders initially welcomed the task force, but its operations have fundamentally transformed into an extortion force,” Amoateng said.
The group alleges that funds collected from importers under the pretext of revaluation assessments are siphoned back to Accra, creating incentives for senior officers to perpetuate the existence of these task forces. TAGG questioned the necessity of the force, arguing that Ghana Customs already has robust systems in place for valuation and duty collection. “If Customs were prioritising the national interest and implementing their existing mechanisms efficiently, why would an additional task force be necessary?” Amoateng asked.
TAGG spotlighted a case it described as emblematic of the wider problem, involving an officer named Prince Daniels Mensah Odai—allegedly the head of the Ashanti Region Task Force. According to the group, Odai intercepted two containers lawfully cleared in Accra, accused the importer of undervaluation, and demanded GHS 120,000 before settling for GHS 40,000, paid through a combination of mobile money and cash. The payment was later deposited into state coffers, purportedly to cover tracks after the incident was reported.
Mr. Amoateng suggested this may be only the tip of the iceberg, asking, “How many other importers have fallen victim to this officer?” He also warned that the practice of inflating recovery figures to create the illusion of robust revenue collection is a recurring problem.
TAGG delivered a stern message to the new administration, reminding it that similar issues had eroded public confidence under the previous government. The group outlined a four-point demand: immediate investigation into the allegations, a comprehensive audit of all Customs task forces, transparent systems to eliminate extortion, and an independent reporting channel for traders.
Cautioning that official statistics on revenue “recoveries” may mask the true nature of the task force’s operations, TAGG concluded that rooting out corruption within Customs is essential for restoring trust, enabling business growth, and supporting the government’s broader reform agenda.
Source: Apexnewsgh.com
