A growing rift is unfolding at Ghana’s port community as the Indigenous Freight Forwarders Association has taken a swipe at the Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders (GIFF) over what it describes as misplaced agitation against the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).
The Indigenous Freight Forwarders are urging GIFF to direct its energies towards pushing for more efficient operations within the Integrated Customs Management System (ICUMS) rather than mobilizing protests against the Customs Division, which they say is only enforcing legitimate revenue collection measures.
Their statement comes amid mounting tension, following intelligence reports of a planned strike action by GIFF members against the Commissioner General of Customs division of the Ghana Revenue Authority GRA. According to sources, the demonstration is in response to the blocking of licenses of some GIFF members who have failed to clear their outstanding gate-out transactions — a critical part of the customs clearing process.
GIFF Members Barred from Filing BOEs
The affected freight forwarders are currently unable to file Bills of Entry (BOEs) for new import transactions, as their licenses have been revoked until they fulfill their financial obligations tied to previous gate-outs. The Customs Division of the GRA justifies the sanctions as necessary to protect government revenue and ensure compliance.
System Failure Breeds Frustration
In an interview, the Convenor of the Indigenous Freight Forwarders, Dr. Mawuli Tettey, defended Customs’ actions, arguing that the root cause of the confusion lies in the unreliability of the ICUMS platform.
“Many freight forwarders only realize their revenue obligations after they have found alternative ways to clear goods due to persistent breakdowns of ICUMS,” Dr. Tettey explained. “By the time the system becomes accessible, they are financially unprepared to settle the charges.”
He emphasized that instead of antagonizing Customs, GIFF should hold the ICUMS administrators accountable for the frequent system failures which disrupt freight forwarding operations and delay the timely issuance of bills.
Silence from GIFF Leadership
While no official statement has been issued by GIFF regarding the rumored strike even though leadership of GIFF has issued letters to put on red bands from Monday, sources close to the association confirmed that a heated emergency meeting was held on Friday, during which members considered various actions to express their dissatisfaction.
Efforts to reach GIFF executives for comment proved futile as of the time of filing this report.
Background: ICUMS and Revenue Enforcement
The Integrated Customs Management System (ICUMS), launched to streamline port operations and enhance revenue mobilization, has been under scrutiny for technical failures and downtimes that often delay clearance processes.
Customs officials argue that enforcing the gate-out compliance rule is a critical part of ensuring that every container leaving the port is properly accounted for and taxed.
Dr. Tettey concluded by appealing to all freight forwarding associations to remain focused on collective goals: “Let’s push for efficiency and transparency within ICUMS, not fight the very system that ensures the country doesn’t lose revenue.”