A coalition of freight forwarders, traders and industry associations has declared a three-day nationwide strike across Ghana’s ports and entry points, citing unresolved challenges with the implementation of an artificial intelligence-driven cargo valuation system.
The industrial action, set to begin on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, is expected to halt duty payments and cargo clearance processes at all ports and border posts, in what the group describes as a strategic move to press for urgent reforms rather than a withdrawal from national responsibility.
Strike over valuation system concerns
The dispute centres on the Publican AI valuation system introduced by the Ghana Revenue Authority, which freight forwarders argue has created operational bottlenecks and uncertainty within the country’s trade ecosystem.
The coalition said the strike was triggered by weeks of mounting frustration following a directive issued on March 10, 2026, mandating the use of the AI-driven system as the primary basis for cargo valuation. According to the group, the directive effectively imposed a minimum valuation regime, preventing customs officers from applying values below those generated by the system.
Although a subsequent directive on March 16 repositioned the system as a decision-support and risk analysis tool—restoring the primacy of statutory valuation methods under Act 891 and World Trade Organization rules—the coalition insists that a lack of operational clarity continues to disrupt port activities.
Mounting operational challenges
Speaking to the media on Monday, April 12, 2026, General Secretary of the Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders, General Paul K. Mensah, expressed disappointment over a high-level meeting with the Deputy Minister of Finance on April 1, stating that it failed to produce immediate or practical solutions.
According to the coalition, conditions at the ports have deteriorated, with persistent valuation delays, excessive and unsustainable duty assessments, and a growing backlog of uncleared cargo driving up demurrage costs.
The group also identified critical technical and procedural gaps in the system, including the absence of clear standard operating procedures to guide the relationship between AI-generated values and customs officers’ discretion, as well as a lack of defined timelines for processing valuations and resolving disputes.
Concerns over appeals and valuation framework
A major concern raised by the coalition is the absence of a functional appeals system. While a Secretariat has reportedly been referenced, the group noted that there are no published procedures, digital platforms or timelines for handling disputes, forcing traders to rely on informal channels.
The coalition further highlighted the lack of a clear policy framework for valuing used goods, which it said has led to arbitrary assessments, frequent disputes and what it described as systematic overvaluation.
It also cited recent restrictions on selected goods for land transit, warning that these measures have disrupted established trade corridors, caused congestion at border points and created uncertainty in regional trade operations.
Governance concerns and demands
Describing the situation as a governance breakdown, the coalition pointed to fragmented decision-making, weak inter-agency coordination and the absence of a central authority with a clear execution mandate as underlying issues.
Among its demands are the establishment of a high-level, legally mandated trade governance body to coordinate policy across agencies, the introduction of a transparent digital appeals system, the publication of comprehensive operational guidelines for the AI system, and a clearly defined valuation framework for used goods.
The group also called for a review of transit trade restrictions to ease pressure on cross-border trade.
Three-day shutdown of port activities
As part of the industrial action, the coalition announced that no duty payments would be made and all cargo clearance processes would be suspended during the three-day period.
It emphasised that the move is intended to compel authorities to address longstanding concerns and restore confidence in the country’s trade system.
The coalition warned that Ghana’s trade sector cannot function effectively under what it described as opaque valuation regimes and inconsistent administrative processes, stressing that predictability, legal certainty and operational clarity are essential to maintaining the country’s competitiveness as a regional trade hub.
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www.graphic.com.gh