The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has announced that the use of the Publican AI System is now mandatory for all import clearance and assessment processes, effective March 12, 2026. The measure aims to enhance efficiency, transparency, and revenue assurance across Ghana’s ports and border posts.

A directive issued to all ports and stations requires Customs Officers involved in the clearance, inspection, valuation, and assessment of imports to rely primarily on datasets, risk assessments, and decision outputs generated by the AI system. Officers are prohibited from finalizing valuations without reference to the AI-generated values and may not complete assessments based on figures lower than those provided by the system. Where an officer’s valuation equals or exceeds the AI’s output, the officer’s assessment will apply.

To manage disputes and appeals, the GRA has established a Publican AI System Secretariat to serve as the central point for reviewing and resolving challenges from importers or other stakeholders. Collection-level officers are not permitted to entertain direct appeals against AI-generated decisions; all disputes must be formally submitted to the Secretariat with supporting documentation.

Heads of Collections have been tasked with ensuring full compliance, and the GRA has warned that failure to use the Publican AI System as the primary decision-making tool may result in disciplinary action.

The introduction of the AI-driven system aligns with the Customs Act, 2015 (Act 891), and represents a major step toward modernizing Ghana’s customs operations while safeguarding national revenue.