The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has constituted a nine-member committee to investigate allegations surrounding the unauthorised removal, transfer and disappearance of 28 containers at the Tema Port.
The investigation follows a petition dated September 29, 2026, submitted to the Commissioner-General of the GRA, Anthony Kwasi Sarpong, by importers and their representatives, who called for an inquiry into the whereabouts of the containers.
According to the petition, the containers were at various stages of the customs clearance process but were subsequently found to be empty, missing, transferred to private warehouses or removed from the port without the owners’ knowledge.
The petitioners, agents Elvis Kwabena Awuah and Ibrahim Amadou, together with importer representatives Amadu Diande and Amadou Djiguba, cited several Bill of Lading numbers in support of their claims.
The affected consignments were alleged to contain commodities including cyanide, condensed milk, sardines, alcohol, textiles, pharmaceuticals, black pepper and tomato paste.
The petition further alleged that some of the containers had been offloaded into private warehouses near the GHACEM enclave, while others had been moved out of the port without the knowledge of their owners.
The matter has also reportedly been lodged with the Tema Regional Police Command, with some arrests made and suspects subsequently granted police enquiry bail.
Mr Sarpong said management considered the allegations serious because of their potential implications for revenue assurance, port security and the reputation of the GRA.
He has consequently appointed the Commissioner of Customs, Aaron Kanor, as chairman of the Fact-Finding and Investigative Committee.
The Technical Advisor to the Commissioner-General, Elsie Appau-Klu, will serve as a member and Secretary to the committee.
Other members are Head of Legal Freeman Sarbah; Head of Customs Port Operations, Theresa Potakey; Head of Post Clearance Audit (PCA), Alphonse Quainoo; Head of Preventive, Charles Agbeko; Head of P&P, Divine Agbeko; Head of Investigations, EGG, Patrick Intarmah; and ICUMS System Administrator, Gerald Agbetor.
The committee will be assisted by AC DMCE Diana Ayorkor Agbenyega.
The committee has been tasked with establishing the veracity of the petition and determining the status and whereabouts of the 28 containers.
It will also review data trails in the Integrated Customs Management System (ICUMS), including UCL records, gazetting processes and gate-out logs associated with the affected bills of lading.
The investigation will further determine whether customs clearance procedures were breached and identify any GRA officers or external collaborators who may have been involved.
The committee is also expected to establish any revenue losses arising from the alleged incidents and recommend measures for their recovery.
Its mandate includes examining allegations of possible cartel activity and the alleged misuse of the names of high-ranking officials.
The committee will also recommend administrative and systems-related measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Mr Sarpong has directed the committee to commence work immediately and submit its report within 14 days of the date of the memorandum.
All heads of divisions, the Tema Collection and relevant stakeholders have been directed to provide the committee with maximum cooperation during the investigation.
