The Traders Advocacy Group Ghana (TAGG), the umbrella body representing traders across the country, has petitioned the government to investigate what it describes as rampant extortion by members of the Customs Division Task Force under the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) operating in the Ashanti Region.
According to TAGG, alleged abuses by the task force are undermining trust in state institutions and eroding confidence in Ghana’s business environment at a time when traders are already grappling with economic pressures.
Addressing a press conference in Accra, TAGG President David Kwadwo Amoateng said the task force—originally established to strengthen post-clearance checks and ensure compliance—has instead become “a conduit for systematic extortion.”
> “Although traders initially embraced the initiative, its operations have fundamentally transformed into an extortion machinery,”
Mr. Amoateng stated.
TAGG claims that funds allegedly taken from importers under the guise of revaluation assessments are being channelled back to Accra, creating what the group called “perverse incentives” for senior officers to maintain the task force structure despite its perceived abuses.
Mr. Amoateng questioned the very necessity of the task force, insisting that the Customs Division already has the technological and administrative systems required to ensure fair valuation and duty collection.
> “If Customs were prioritising the national interest and effectively utilising their existing mechanisms, why would an additional task force be necessary?” he asked.
TAGG highlighted what it described as a “disturbing example” involving an officer identified as Prince Daniels Mensah Odai, popularly known as Prince, who heads the Ashanti Regional Task Force.
According to TAGG, Officer Odai intercepted two containers legally cleared in Accra and destined for Kumasi, alleging undervaluation. The officer is accused of demanding GHS 120,000 from the importer before eventually accepting GHS 40,000 through a combination of mobile money and cash on October 21, 2025.
TAGG claims that when the officer discovered the matter had been reported, he attempted to conceal the alleged extortion by paying the GHS 40,000 into state coffers on October 25, 2025.
> “How many other importers have fallen victim to this officer?” Mr. Amoateng asked, insisting the case is “likely one of many.”
TAGG also accused some Customs officers of inflating recovery figures to create a misleading impression of strong revenue collection, when in reality the so-called recoveries may stem from coerced payments rather than legitimate assessments.
The group cautioned that failing to address the situation could fuel the same trader frustrations that contributed to public disaffection under the previous administration.
> “When the business community is adversely affected, it becomes extremely difficult for any government to secure and maintain public confidence,”
Mr. Amoateng warned.
TAGG expressed concern that certain practices reminiscent of the past are resurfacing, urging the current NDC administration to act swiftly and decisively.
TAGG outlined a set of demands aimed at ending what it describes as entrenched corruption within the Customs system:
1. Immediate investigation into the allegations against Officer Prince Daniels Mensah Odai and the Ashanti Region Task Force.
2. Comprehensive audit of all Customs task forces nationwide, including their relevance, operations, and supervisory mechanisms.
3. Implementation of transparent systems to eliminate extortion and ensure fair, consistent valuation procedures.
4. Creation of an independent reporting channel enabling traders to report corruption without fear of retaliation.
TAGG said it expects Ghana Customs to issue a response but cautioned that any figures presented as “recoveries” must be scrutinised to determine whether they reflect legitimate revenue or coerced payments.
The group concluded by stressing that rooting out corruption within the Customs Division is essential to restoring trust, boosting business confidence, and supporting the government’s broader efforts to restructure and modernise national systems.
Story: Nyamebeye Kofi Ansah Sasraku