The Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has issued a stern warning to importers and exporters, cautioning them against the practice of bypassing systems to evade paying required duties. Mr. Evans Teye Agbozo, the Deputy Ashanti Regional Commander, emphasized that those engaged in such acts would be detected during a Post Clearance Audit (PCA) and held accountable for the differences in duty payments. His remarks were made during a seminar on PCA organized by the Ghana Shippers’ Authority (GSA) in Kumasi on Tuesday, July 18.
The PCA process involves a systematic examination and verification of Customs declarations, supporting documents, and related records after goods have been released from Customs control. The objective is to ensure compliance with Customs laws, regulations, and procedures and to identify any errors, omissions, or irregularities in customs declarations. This includes incorrect valuation, misclassification of goods, inaccurate determination of origin, and discrepancies in quantities or weights.
Mr. Agbozo highlighted that during a PCA, Customs authorities may review specific transactions or conduct random checks on a sample basis. Relevant documents, such as invoices, bills of lading, packing lists, contracts, and financial records, are scrutinized to assess the accuracy and authenticity of the provided information.
Acknowledging complaints from importers and exporters about financial inconveniences faced after undergoing the PCA, Mr. Agbozo assured that the Customs Division of the GRA was well aware of malpractices in duty payments and would take all necessary measures to ensure the State receives the appropriate revenue due to it.
The Chief Executive Officer of GSA, Ms. Benonita Bismarck, emphasized the Authority’s commitment to inform importers and exporters, ensuring their compliance with the Customs PCA regime to avoid misunderstandings while ensuring the government receives the rightful revenue generated from businesses.
 issues a stern warning to importers and exporters against evading required duties through system bypassing. The Customs Division emphasizes the use of Post Clearance Audits (PCA) to detect such practices and hold offenders accountable for discrepancies in duty payments. The seminar organized by the Ghana Shippers' Authority aims to educate stakeholders to comply with Customs laws while ensuring fair revenue generation for the State.){kind=link}