The Traders Advocacy Group Ghana (TAGG) has raised serious concerns over Parliament’s approval of an agreement between the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and TRUEDARE Investments Limited for the introduction of a digital, AI-powered customs tracking and audit system.
In a statement released on Sunday, December 28,2025, TAGG warned that the deal, which is being presented as coming “at no additional cost to the state,” risks imposing hidden financial burdens on traders and consumers, while lacking transparency and proper due diligence.
According to the group, the agreement is intended to supplement the Integrated Customs Management System (ICUMS), Ghana’s single-window e-customs platform introduced in 2020.
TAGG noted that ICUMS already provides end-to-end customs data management, including cargo tracking, risk assessment and post-clearance audits, and was designed to reduce costs and systemic leakages.
TAGG questioned why government would seek to introduce a new parallel system without publicly disclosing any independent technical assessments showing significant gaps in ICUMS. The group insisted that if limitations exist, all analyses and justifications should be made public.
The traders’ association also raised concerns about TRUEDARE Investments Limited, stating that it found no public evidence that the company has previously designed or operated large-scale customs systems, AI audit platforms or container tracking solutions.
TAGG described it as risky for Parliament to entrust a critical national digital mandate to a newly incorporated and minimally capitalised offshore entity without full public disclosure of its expertise, ownership and selection process.
Additionally, TAGG rejected claims that the project would come at no cost to the state, arguing that in trade facilitation, costs are always borne by someone. The group warned that any associated fees could ultimately be transferred to traders, importers and consumers, increasing the cost of doing business and living in Ghana.
While stressing that it is not opposed to technological advancement or the use of artificial intelligence in customs administration, TAGG said it strongly opposes opaque contracts, weak due diligence and arrangements that shift hidden costs onto traders and consumers.
“There is no Father Christmas in customs; someone always pays,” the group stated, calling on government to ensure full transparency and accountability before proceeding further with the agreement.
TAGG urged authorities to heed the concerns of industry players, warning that failure to do so could undermine confidence in ongoing customs reforms and broader economic objectives.
Source name: Juliet Arhinful
