ABOA Urges Halt to AI system Rollout at Ghana’s Ports

The Ashanti Business Owners Association (ABOA) has called on the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and the Ministry of Finance to suspend the deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) systems for customs valuation and tariff classification at the country’s ports. The group cited risks to trade, transparency, and the wider economy.

In a press statement released on March 31, 2026, ABOA stressed the need for comprehensive stakeholder consultations before any nationwide implementation of the AI-driven system.

“We respectfully urge the Ghana Revenue Authority and the Ministry of Finance to halt full-scale deployment of AI valuation and classification systems until all stakeholders have been consulted. Authorities must address high import duty costs, ensure compliance, reduce undervaluation and misclassification, and publish clear guidelines on how AI-generated values and classifications are determined,” the statement read.

While acknowledging the benefits of digital transformation, ABOA highlighted “significant operational, legal, and economic concerns” associated with the system. Central to their criticism is a perceived lack of transparency, with the AI operating as a “black box” that leaves importers unclear on how duties are calculated. The association warned that this undermines due process and fair trade practices.

The group also cautioned that the system could violate Ghana’s commitments under international trade agreements, including World Trade Organization (WTO) rules emphasizing predictability, advance rulings, and expedited clearance. Reports of arbitrary or inflated valuations, ABOA said, are already increasing import costs and putting undue pressure on businesses.

“Without clear justification or a standardised appeal mechanism, businesses are left vulnerable to unnecessary financial burdens,” the statement noted. ABOA further warned that over-reliance on AI diminishes human oversight and accountability in complex customs procedures.

The association outlined recommendations, including:

• Publishing transparent guidelines for AI-generated valuations,

• Establishing a dispute resolution system,

• Using AI as a supportive tool validated by qualified customs officers, and

• Piloting the system in controlled environments before nationwide rollout.

“The integrity of Ghana’s trade ecosystem depends on fairness, predictability, and adherence to internationally accepted standards,” ABOA said, emphasizing that innovation must not come at the expense of business sustainability and economic growth.