Story By: Daniel Kwabena Asare
The Food and Beverages Association of Ghana (FABAG) has commended the Government of Ghana and the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) for their bold and timely directive banning the entry of transit goods for some selected products through the Aflao border including spaghetti and tin tomatoes
According to the Association This decisive intervention is a significant step toward safeguarding local industries, protecting government revenue and strengthening regulatory control at the nation’s borders
For several years, the influx of transit goods through land borders has posed serious challenges to legitimate businesses, undermined local manufacturing, distorted market competition and import ecosystem, particularly within the food and beverages sector, where unregulated inflows of goods have had severe implications for local producers and formal sector operators.
While the Food and Beverages Association commends this important action at the Aflao border, the Association respectfully urge the Government and the Ghana Revenue Authority to extend this directive to all other land borders across the country without exception. Limiting such enforcement to a single border risks diversion of transit goods to other entry points thereby defeating the policy’s intended objective.
However, FABAG strongly recommends that the scope of the directive be beyond transit goods to a complete ban on the entry of the affected products through land borders into Ghana, whether for transit or direct consumption. A partial restriction that targets only transit consignment may inadvertently create loopholes that can be exploited, leading to continued smuggling, under-declaration, and unfair market practices.
FABAG therefore calls on all relevant state agencies, including Customs, border security authorities, and regulatory institutions, to collaborate in ensuring strict enforcement of this directive nationwide. Consistency in policy implementation across all land entry points is critical to achieving the desired economic and regulatory impact.
Furthermore, The Food and Beverages Association of Ghana remains committed to constructive engagement with policymakers to promote policies that support local industry growth, revenue protection, and national economic resilience.
Ghana’s manufacturing and formal trading sectors continue to operate under significant cost pressures, including high tariffs, taxes, logistics costs, and regulatory burdens.
Allowing uncontrolled inflows of goods through porous land borders places compliant businesses at a severe disadvantage and threatens the sustainability of domestic production.