Acting Customs Commissioner Aaron Kanor says carrying more than two phones does not automatically attract Customs duty
The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has clarified that travellers carrying more than two mobile phones into Ghana will not automatically be required to pay Customs duty, saying the number of phones alone does not determine whether taxes are payable.
The Acting Commissioner of the Customs Division, Aaron Kanor, said the key consideration is whether the items are genuinely for the traveller’s personal use or are being brought into the country for sale, distribution or on behalf of other people.
Speaking in a phone interview on Ahotor 92.3 FM with Nana Dogbe on the political talk show Simpieso, Mr Kanor said his earlier comments on the issue were intended to educate the public on existing Customs regulations and not to announce a new policy.
“If the things are your personal belongings, the government cannot take taxes on them,” he said.
Mr Kanor explained that Customs makes a distinction between personal effects and goods imported for commercial purposes, adding that officers assess each case based on the nature, quantity and circumstances surrounding the items being brought into the country.
He said travellers often accept items from friends and relatives abroad to deliver to people in Ghana, but cautioned that carrying several quantities of the same item on behalf of others could lead Customs to treat the goods as commercial imports.
He cited mobile phones as an example, saying several expensive devices, particularly new or similarly packaged iPhones and Samsung phones, could prompt Customs officers to make further enquiries to establish whether they are genuinely for personal use.
Mr Kanor stressed that there is no new law automatically imposing Customs duty on travellers who carry more than two mobile phones. He said the relevant regulations have been in existence since 2022 and that the Customs Division has been conducting public education on them.
“This is not a new law. These laws were there before I became a commissioner. It is only left with compliance,” he said.
The clarification follows comments made by Mr Kanor during a working visit to the Accra International Airport (AIA), where he demonstrated procedures for arriving passengers and the handling of their luggage.
During the visit, he cautioned travellers against accepting large quantities of goods, particularly expensive electronic devices, from people abroad without first understanding the applicable Customs requirements.
He also explained that the green channel at Ghana’s ports of entry is intended for travellers who have no goods to declare, including personal belongings that are not being brought into the country for commercial purposes.
Travellers carrying goods that require declaration are expected to use the appropriate Customs channel and seek guidance from Customs officers if they are uncertain about whether their items require declaration.
Mr Kanor said the Customs Division has intensified its public education efforts, including engagements with media houses, to ensure that travellers understand the regulations and avoid unnecessary confusion at the ports of entry.
He urged Ghanaians to familiarise themselves with Customs procedures, stressing that the regulations were enacted by Parliament to support revenue mobilisation and were not intended to unduly burden legitimate travellers.
“This law was enacted by Parliament. It is not intended to harm anybody. It is for revenue mobilisation,” he said.
Story by Freedom Etsey Lavoe