GRA adopts AI to enhance customs revenue collection
20th January 2026
The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) is adopting artificial intelligence to seal long-standing leakages in Customs revenue, after pilot tests showed the technology could boost collections by as much as 45 percent by curbing undervaluation and misclassification of imports.
The move follows revelations in the 2026 Budget Statement, which exposed extensive abuse of Import Declaration Forms (IDFs). An audit covering April 2020 to August 2025 found that more than 525,000 transactions valued at about US$83 billion passed through the Customs system, yet only a fraction corresponded to actual imports.
According to the findings, roughly US$31 billion was transferred abroad without goods entering the country—draining foreign reserves and exerting pressure on the cedi. Importers were also found to have under-declared goods worth approximately GH¢76 billion, resulting in an estimated GH¢11 billion in lost revenue. In some cases, banks processed inflated transfers in violation of Bank of Ghana limits.
Commissioner-General of the GRA, Anthony Sarpong, said the decision to deploy the AI solution followed months of negotiations with the service provider and extensive testing through proof-of-concept and pilot phases.
“We’ve gone through a very rigorous negotiation with the service providers, and we believe the cost the state will be paying represents value for money,” Mr Sarpong said. “From the proof of concept and the pilot we conducted, revenues increased between 40 percent and 45 percent. That is the level of impact we are targeting.”
The authority plans to roll out the AI-powered trade analytics tool to complement the Integrated Customs Management System (ICUMS), which has anchored Customs processing at ports, airports and land borders for over five years.
Officials say the new system is designed to address persistent weaknesses despite earlier digital reforms, particularly the heavy reliance on human discretion in classifying goods and assessing duties.
Mr Sarpong said the technology would also resolve longstanding complaints from importers over inconsistent duty assessments.
“If two people bring the same vehicle, discretion in the process may result in one paying a more favourable duty than the other,” he explained. “With AI, assessments are standardised, ensuring parity and accuracy in duty determination.”
Speed is another key driver of the reform. GRA estimates that a comprehensive assessment of a shipment can take up to two hours, especially for complex classifications. With AI support, that process could be completed within minutes.
“What the AI will do is provide an advanced assessment within about five minutes,” Mr Sarpong said. “It supports officers to reach accurate decisions much faster, improving efficiency while maintaining scrutiny.”
The planned deployment has sparked concerns among importers that the cost of the software could be passed on through new fees or levies. However, both the GRA and the Ministry of Finance have dismissed such fears.
“Government is clear that the cost of implementing this software will not be passed on to importers,” Mr Sarpong said. “Any new levy would require parliamentary approval, and no such proposal has been submitted.”
The service provider, which has received parliamentary approval, operates through an investment entity registered in Cyprus—an arrangement officials say has already undergone legislative scrutiny.
Finance officials describe the initiative as part of a broader strategy to raise domestic revenue without increasing tax rates. Deputy Finance Minister Thomas Nyarko Ampem said the AI system, known as Publican Trade Solution, is already in use in more than 20 countries and is designed to strengthen Customs controls while facilitating legitimate trade.
Pilot results cited by the ministry showed the system detected misclassification and undervaluation in 18 out of 43 randomly selected transactions. Further reviews of five companies involved led to the recovery of about GH¢15 million in additional revenue.
Beyond revenue gains, officials say the technology will enhance Customs’ ability to respond to increasingly sophisticated smuggling tactics. By integrating data across borders and agencies, the system can flag high-risk transactions that may evade manual checks, strengthening enforcement while keeping trade flowing.