The Food and Beverages Association of Ghana (FABAG) has welcomed the government’s move to restrict the entry of selected goods through land borders, saying the policy could boost state revenue and curb smuggling.

In a statement released on March 12, 2026, the association commended the Ministry of Finance and Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson for implementing the directive, which requires certain goods to enter the country exclusively through seaports.

The policy applies to products including rice, sugar, flour, textiles, spaghetti, and tomato paste.

FABAG described the move as a “bold and timely intervention” to address long-standing challenges of smuggling, revenue losses, and misclassification of goods within Ghana’s trade system.

According to the association, significant revenue has been lost over the years through abuse of the transit trade regime, with some traders declaring goods as transit cargo destined for neighbouring countries but diverting them into the local market via land borders without paying the required duties and taxes.

Routing these goods through seaports, FABAG says, will enhance monitoring, inspection, and documentation, reducing the risk of diversion and illegal trade.

The association also urged relevant agencies, including the Ghana Revenue Authority and its Customs Division, to enforce the directive rigorously.

Additionally, FABAG recommended that the government consider expanding the list of restricted transit goods to include products such as fruit juices, warning that some traders might attempt to bypass the new rules by misclassifying goods to evade controls.

This policy is part of broader efforts to strengthen revenue collection and ensure compliance with trade regulations across the country.