The Advocate for Indigenous Freight Forwarders has congratulated Aaron Kanor on his appointment as Acting Commissioner of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), describing the decision as a strategic step toward strengthening trade facilitation and enhancing revenue mobilisation.
In a detailed commendation issued signed by its Convenor, Godfred Mawuli Tettey (Dr), the advocacy group noted that Mr. Kanor’s elevation to head the Customs Division comes at a critical period when Ghana is intensifying reforms in revenue assurance, border security and transit trade management.
According to the statement, Mr. Kanor’s extensive experience within the Customs administration and his deep understanding of Ghana’s trade architecture position him to spearhead transformative reforms that promote efficiency, transparency and fairness within the clearing and forwarding sector.
“His appointment inspires confidence among indigenous freight forwarders who have long advocated for a Customs leadership that appreciates the operational realities at the ports and land borders,” the statement said.
The Customs Division of the GRA plays a central role in revenue generation, contributing significantly to Ghana’s domestic tax inflows. Beyond revenue mobilisation, the Division is responsible for border protection, prevention of smuggling, enforcement of trade regulations and implementation of international trade protocols.
The Advocate emphasised that effective Customs administration is vital to protecting local industries, enhancing competitiveness and safeguarding national security.
It stressed that with increasing regional trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area, Ghana’s Customs leadership must balance trade facilitation with robust compliance mechanisms. The group expressed confidence that Mr. Kanor possesses the technical capacity and institutional knowledge to achieve this balance.
The statement urged the Acting Commissioner to prioritise sustained engagement with indigenous freight forwarders as key stakeholders in Ghana’s logistics and supply chain ecosystem.
It called for transparent valuation and classification processes, predictable and uniform application of Customs procedures, digitisation reforms that reduce excessive human interface and stronger collaboration to curb illicit trade and transit diversion.
It further highlighted the importance of strengthening post-clearance audits, intelligence-led enforcement and risk management systems to plug revenue leakages without stifling legitimate trade. Industry observers note that leadership stability within the Customs Division is essential at a time when Ghana is pursuing ambitious domestic revenue mobilisation targets and modernising its ports infrastructure.
Dr. Tettey pledged the full support of indigenous freight forwarders to the Acting Commissioner in his mandate to build a Customs administration anchored on professionalism, integrity and service excellence.
“His success will translate into improved trade efficiency, increased government revenue and stronger protection for indigenous businesses,” the statement concluded.
Mr. Kanor’s appointment is expected to usher in a new phase of administrative leadership within the Customs Division as stakeholders look forward to policy direction that aligns operational effectiveness with national economic development objectives.