The Food and Beverages Association of Ghana (FABAG) has issued an urgent public appeal to the government, warning that the escalating crisis of smuggling across Ghana’s borders is causing the nation to lose billions of cedis in revenue each month.
In a strongly worded statement, FABAG drew attention to the “alarming levels” of illicit trade, which is flooding the market with untaxed and often substandard commodities like rice, cooking oil, sugar, alcoholic beverages, and textiles.
FABAG estimates that Ghana is losing hundreds of millions of cedis every week due to unmonitored smuggling activities at both official and unofficial entry points.
The association labelled the situation a “double tragedy,” stating that while compliant businesses face rigorous tax regimes and rising operational costs, smugglers thrive unchecked and prosper through well-organised criminal networks.
“This massive revenue drain threatens the stability of our economy, diminishes investor confidence, erodes the Ghanaian cedi, and jeopardizes employment within our manufacturing and distribution sectors,” the statement read.
FABAG called on the Ministry of Finance and all relevant authorities to take immediate and decisive action. Specifically, they appealed to the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), the Ministry of Trade and Industry, and National Security agencies to:
- Intensify enforcement efforts.
- Deploy advanced surveillance technology.
- Foster stronger collaboration with border communities.
Furthermore, FABAG urged the Ministry of Finance, as it prepares the 2026 budget, to conduct a thorough review of the current import tax regime. They argue that high import duties and complex port procedures are major drivers of the smuggling phenomenon, and reform is urgently needed to remove incentives for illicit trade.
The association stressed that the issue is not just economic, but a matter of “national security and survival” that jeopardizes Ghana’s industrial base.
Source:https://3news.com/
