Importers and exporters in Ghana are facing longer wait times and higher charges at customs, according to the Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana (IEAG). The association’s Executive Secretary, Samson Asaki Awingobit, warned that poor cargo descriptions, missing supporting documents and inaccurate declarations are delaying clearance and increasing costs.
Mr Awingobit told the association’s spokesperson that importers must provide accurate information about their goods and attach all relevant documents before submitting customs declarations. He added that incomplete or inaccurate declarations force customs officers to seek clarification or exercise their discretion, prolonging the clearance process and delaying cargo release.
“If the agent will do a declaration without giving appropriate description, cost or receipt attached to a particular product, then of course the customs officer will have to use his own discretion,” he said. He urged importers not to leave the entire process to clearing agents, stressing that they are responsible for providing the correct details of the goods they purchase.
Mr Awingobit also encouraged businesses to take advantage of pre‑arrival clearance by submitting shipping documents to their clearing agents before vessels reach the ports. “When cargo is on the way coming, you can tell your agent to start processing as soon as you have the ship set sail and you receive your original bill of lading,” he said. Early processing, he explained, would help identify and resolve documentation gaps before cargo arrives, reducing delays and additional charges such as port rent and demurrage.
He said sustained education and closer collaboration between importers and clearing agents would be essential to improving declaration accuracy and speeding up cargo clearance.
