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The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has directed the compulsory use of its Publican AI System for all import clearance and assessment processes, effective March 12, 2026, marking a significant shift toward technology-driven customs operations.
The new directive is designed to enhance efficiency, transparency, and revenue assurance across Ghana’s ports and border entry points. Under the framework, customs officers handling clearance, inspection, valuation, and assessment are required to rely primarily on the system’s datasets, risk analysis, and automated decision outputs.
According to the GRA, officers are no longer permitted to finalise import valuations without referencing the AI-generated benchmarks. In addition, assessments cannot be concluded using figures lower than those provided by the system. However, where an officer’s valuation meets or exceeds the AI’s output, the higher assessment may be applied.
To support accountability and dispute resolution, the authority has established a dedicated Publican AI System Secretariat. This unit will serve as the sole channel for handling appeals and complaints from importers and other stakeholders. Officers at the collection level are barred from addressing disputes directly, with all challenges required to be formally submitted to the Secretariat alongside relevant documentation.
The GRA has also tasked Heads of Collections with enforcing full compliance across their respective units, warning that failure to adhere to the directive may attract disciplinary measures.
The rollout of the AI-powered system aligns with the provisions of the Customs Act, 2015 (Act 891) and reflects a broader push to modernise customs administration, reduce human discretion, and strengthen revenue protection through data-driven decision-making.
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