Government will begin deploying artificial intelligence at its ports as part of a broader effort to stem revenue leakages and improve customs efficiency, Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson announced Thursday.
Presenting the 2025 Mid-Year Budget Review to Parliament, Dr. Forson said Customs revenue fell short by GH¢1.6 billion ($122 million) in the first half of the year—12.7% below target—due to widespread inefficiencies and smuggling at major entry points including Tema Port.
“This underperformance poses a threat to our fiscal targets,” the minister told lawmakers.
To address the shortfall, the government will integrate AI tools into customs operations to limit human discretion in assessing imports, reduce corruption, and improve valuation accuracy. The system is expected to verify country of origin, automate classification, and enhance compliance.
“We will adopt Artificial Intelligence to reduce human involvement in revenue assessments, validate the country of origin, and ensure accurate classification and valuation of imports,” Dr. Forson said.
In addition to the AI rollout, the government will implement an Advanced Cargo Information (ACI) system. The new platform will allow the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority and the Ghana Revenue Authority to access shipment details 24 hours before vessels depart their ports of origin. The aim is to enable more effective pre-arrival risk assessments, minimize documentation changes, and improve duty accuracy.
Ghana will also launch a national anti-smuggling surveillance program focused on inland and maritime borders and undertake a structural overhaul of the Customs Division to enhance decentralization and accountability.
“These reforms are designed to strengthen revenue mobilization and ensure greater transparency at the ports,” Dr. Forson said.
The move comes as Ghana works to restore macroeconomic stability under a $3 billion program with the International Monetary Fund. The country is pushing to improve domestic revenue performance amid rising debt levels and post-pandemic fiscal pressures.
