Misuse of Post-Clearance Audit threatens revenue, others – CBWTA

By Christabel DANSO ABEAM

Concerns have been raised by the Cross Border Women Traders Association (CBWTA) over unfair and intimidation practices by officers within the Customs Division of the  Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).

They have cautioned that the misuse of Post-Clearance Audits (PCA) is a threat to national revenue, regional trade and thousands of livelihoods.

Even though traders comply with all customs procedures and pay required duties, CBWTA says that they are subjected to aggressive and selective audits when transporting goods to market centres.

According to them, more than 100 trucks belonging to traders were reportedly re-examined between October and November this year alone after clearance — imposing additional costs and creating fear in the cross-border trading community.

“These actions undermine trust between government and traders, destabilise trade and risk inflation when regional goods become scarce. It also affects the cross-border women trading community — despite national and regional efforts to support women in trade for food security and poverty reduction,” they established in a presser issued by the association.

CBWTA further warned that politically motivated targeting of traders could collapse businesses and discourage legitimate importation.

Data from the Ghana Statistical Service’s first-ever ICBT survey identifies the scale and importance of the sector. The findings show that informal trade between Ghana and neighbouring countries reached GH?7.4billion in the fourth quarter of 2024, representing 4.3 percent of Ghana’s total trade for the quarter.

The research covered 321 border points across 10 regions — underscoring the vital role of cross-border trade when it comes to supporting livelihoods, food security  and regional commerce.

The report, however, also identified persistent challenges such as harassment at border posts, lack of awareness of trade documentation, weak infrastructure and limited access to credit, affecting informal traders.

These vulnerabilities mean that any misuse of audit procedures can have disproportionate consequences.

Call for action

To solve this, CBWTA has urged the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, the Finance Ministry and other relevant stakeholders to halt unauthorised checkpoints and politically-driven enforcement, convene an emergency meeting with the National Cross Border Women Traders Association within a week to address these concerns and jointly develop practical, transparent and sustainable trade facilitation solutions.

CBWTA also recommends authorities to ensure that Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Trade Liberalisation (ETLS)-approved goods are handled strictly according to ECOWAS rules without intimidation.

Calling on President John Dramani Mahama to intervene, the statement explained that cross-border women traders play significant roles in the country’s economy and in advancing regional trade integration.

“Failure to act could disrupt border activities along the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor and undermine both revenue performance and regional trade integration,” CBWTA highlighted.

The association also revealed that they are investing in structures to further formalise cross-border trade through the development of a traders’ identification system and database.

 

 

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