The Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Tema Sector, has issued a stern warning to importers and the general public to refrain from importing unmanifested vehicles into the country.

Assistant Commissioner Theresa Potakey, Tema Sector Commander of Customs, described the practice as a deliberate attempt to evade taxes and emphasized that offenders would face strict penalties.

Speaking at the division’s first Joint Consultative Committee meeting, held to review port operations from the previous year and address emerging sector issues, Assistant Commissioner Potakey expressed concern over a growing trend of concealed vehicle imports, particularly at Meridian Port Services (MPS) Terminal 3.

“We have observed that some importers are bringing in vehicles that are not declared on the manifest or bill of lading,” she said. “In many cases, these vehicles are deliberately hidden within containers, clearly intended to avoid tax obligations. This is unacceptable.”

She explained that the Customs Division has already seized several such vehicles and warned that the authority's scanning systems are capable of detecting them.

“Let me caution the public—do not bring unmanifested vehicles. Our scanners will find them, and when they are found, penalties will be applied,” she said.

Currently, offenders are required to pay a restoration penalty when caught. However, Assistant Commissioner Potakey indicated that she would advocate for a doubling of the penalty, proposing the measure to both the Commissioner of Customs and the Commissioner-General of the GRA to serve as a stronger deterrent.