“I May Relocate My Office to Tema Port Over Revenue Leakage” – Ato Forson Warns
Finance Minister raises alarm over widespread smuggling at Tema Port, says drastic action may be needed to stop revenue losses and protect Ghana’s economy.
- Finance Minister Ato Forson decries massive revenue losses at Tema Port due to smuggling
- Threatens to move his office to the port to directly monitor and address the issue
- Goods allegedly smuggled from Togo are entering Ghana without proper taxation
Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson has hinted at the possibility of relocating his office to the Tema Port in a dramatic move to clamp down on what he calls alarming levels of revenue leakage and smuggling.
Speaking during an interview on Friday, July 25, Dr. Forson voiced serious concerns about the widespread infiltration of smuggled goods—particularly from Togo—into the Ghanaian market. These illicit imports, he said, are bypassing customs protocols and draining national revenue.
“In the coming days, I may have to move my office to Tema Port. It might be the only way to fully understand what’s going on,” the Minister stated.
He disclosed that intelligence reports and whistleblower tips have exposed how goods are being diverted from Togo’s ports and smuggled into Ghana, undermining tax collection efforts and threatening local businesses.
“This level of smuggling not only robs the country of critical revenue but also kills local jobs,” he warned.
To combat the growing crisis, Dr. Forson noted that government is taking steps to bolster the Ghana Revenue Authority’s preventive division, adding that failure to act decisively could cripple economic recovery efforts.
