The Ministry of Finance has defended the implementation of the Publican AI system for clearing imports, despite growing concerns from industry stakeholders, particularly members of the Institute of Freight Forwarders. This artificial intelligence-driven system is part of the government’s broader initiative to modernize customs procedures, improve efficiency at ports, and enhance revenue assurance during the importation process.
However, the rollout has faced significant opposition from stakeholders, with many freight forwarders questioning both the consultation process and the potential impact on their operations. In response to these concerns during the Citi Breakfast Show on Thursday, April 9, Victor Kofi Baidoo, the Head of Revenue Assurance at the Ministry of Finance, emphasised that the deployment of the Publican AI system was not conducted unilaterally.
He explained that extensive stakeholder engagement preceded the implementation, ensuring that key players within the import and logistics value chain were adequately informed and given the opportunity to understand the system. We engaged importers and freight forwarders during the system’s rollout, inviting all trade union associations to a stakeholder meeting at the Oak Plaza Hotel. The Deputy Finance Minister formally extended the invitation and provided official notice, after which I delivered a presentation demonstrating how the Publican AI operates—showing its capacity to interrogate data and present actionable insights.”
To reinforce this policy direction, the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) issued a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on March 10 to all ports and stations, outlining the implementation framework. The directive, titled “Directive on the Use of the Publican AI System for Imports Clearance Assessment,” makes the system’s use mandatory across all import clearance processes. This institutionalises Publican AI within Ghana’s customs operations, requiring that procedures such as cargo inspection, valuation, and final assessment be aligned with its analytical outputs. These stages are critical in determining duties and taxes payable on imported goods, thereby embedding the technology at the core of customs administration.
Source: Kabah Atawoge