Over the past two weeks, Ghana’s Port corridors have been gripped by tension, following the rollout of the Publican AI system, an application deployed across the country’s ports and border entry points to enhance revenue mobilisation.
What was intended as a technological upgrade has instead triggered agitation among key trade groups, including the Ghana Union of Traders Association, the Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana and the Traders Advocacy Group.
Their opposition reached a peak yesterday, when traders abandoned their goods at the ports in protest against what they describe as excessive duties under the new system. While such reactions may appear spontaneous, they follow a familiar pattern in Ghana’s trade history.
The Publican AI system, introduced in early 2026 by the Ghana Revenue Authority, in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance, is designed to strengthen customs administration. Managed by the Customs Division, specifically the Customs Technical Services Bureau and supported by a private technology partner, the system, we are told, operates as an AI-driven tool for valuation and duty verification.
Its primary objective is to detect under-invoicing and plug persistent revenue leakages, while complementing the existing Integrated Customs Management System (ICUMS). A central secretariat has been established in Accra to handle disputes and oversee nationwide implementation, covering major ports such as Tema and Takoradi, as well as land borders.
Yet, despite these structural safeguards, resistance has been swift and intense. Traders insist that the system has significantly increased their duty obligations, a claim the GRA has firmly denied.
It is interesting to note that this is not the first time traders are rejecting a platform introduced by the government to maximise revenue. In 2020, similar protests erupted over the introduction of ICUMS. It appears to us that each time reforms are initiated to tighten controls and improve transparency, sections of the trading community respond with scepticism, if not outright opposition.
This raises difficult but necessary questions: are these protests purely a reaction to rising operational costs, or do they reflect deeper discomfort with stricter enforcement? It is undeniable fact that any policy perceived to increase the cost of doing business will be resisted. However, it is equally true that systems designed to close loopholes will inevitably expose practices that previously went unchecked.
Globally, customs administration is undergoing rapid transformation. From Singapore to China and the United Arab Emirates, artificial intelligence is increasingly being deployed to enhance efficiency, improve compliance, and reduce human discretion in valuation processes. Ghana’s adoption of such technology is, therefore, not an anomaly, but part of a broader shift toward data-driven governance.
What distinguishes the Publican AI system, however, is its strong emphasis on real-time revenue enforcement. Unlike many jurisdictions where AI primarily supports risk assessment, Ghana’s model directly influences valuation outcomes. This makes it both a powerful tool for revenue mobilisation and a potential source of friction if not carefully managed.
Ultimately, the question is one of balance – if the system succeeds in improving efficiency and curbing leakages, the benefits will extend beyond the state to the trading community itself through a more predictable and transparent regime. But for this to happen, trust must be built.
The Chronicle believes that sustained engagement—not confrontation—is the way forward. Government must provide clarity on how valuations are determined and ensure that dispute resolution mechanisms are accessible, transparent, and credible. Traders, on the other hand, must recognise that reform is inevitable in a modern economy.
If indeed duty assessments have risen abnormally under the new system, the burden will ultimately be passed on to consumers. That risk cannot be ignored. It is, therefore, imperative that any inconsistencies within the Publican AI framework are promptly identified and corrected.
While traders may be justified in raising concerns over rising costs, the state must equally demonstrate openness by giving them a fair hearing and providing avenues for redress. Only through such balanced engagement can confidence in the system be restored and stability maintained at the ports.
The current impasse need not escalate further. What is required is dialogue, constructive, transparent, and anchored in the national interest. Only then can Ghana fully realise the promise of technological transformation at its ports.
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