Publican AI System Generates Over GH¢300m in Additional Customs Revenue — Ato Forson
Ghana's GRA-led Publican AI tool identifies thousands of undervalued imports, driving a 17.5% surge in customs revenue.
- Publican AI system generated over GH¢300 million in extra customs revenue between January and mid-July 2026.
- AI analyzed 366,000 declarations, flagging 24% for secondary audit due to valuation risk indicators.
- Average monthly customs collections rose from GH¢4bn in 2025 to GH¢5.3bn–GH¢5.5bn in 2026.
The Ghana Revenue Authority’s (GRA) AI-powered customs valuation tool, the Publican AI Trade Solution, has delivered over GH¢300 million in additional customs revenue since its full deployment in March 2026, Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson revealed.
Presenting the 2026 Mid-Year Budget Review in Parliament on Thursday, July 23, Dr. Forson credited the technology with curbing trade misinvoicing and identifying systemic undervaluation among import declarations.
“Between the pilot phase in January and February and the full rollout phase from March to July 17, 2026, the Publican AI Trade Solution increased our customs collection by over GH¢300 million, representing a 17.5% uplift over the values originally declared by importers,” Dr. Forson noted. “Publican increased the aggregate declared Cost, Insurance, and Freight (CIF) value by approximately 6.3%, but boosted our overall customs collection by 17.5%.”
Data-Driven Customs Oversight
The Finance Minister disclosed that the AI platform has evaluated roughly 366,000 import declarations since launch, flagging nearly 24%—about one in four—for triggering multiple valuation risk indicators. Previously, many of these flagged imports would have passed through without detailed scrutiny, leading to substantial revenue leakages.
The system’s financial impact by month includes:
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March: GH¢73.44 million additional revenue (+25.7%)
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April: GH¢51.63 million additional revenue
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May: GH¢72.50 million additional revenue
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June: GH¢55.82 million additional revenue
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July (First 17 Days): GH¢35.17 million additional revenue
As a result of AI-assisted valuation, average monthly customs collection has surged from approximately GH¢4 billion in 2025 to between GH¢5.3 billion and GH¢5.5 billion in 2026. While the government highlights increased transparency, the system’s introduction continues to spark debate among freight forwarders and importers regarding operational implementation.
