Last year, 110 automobiles that were not customs-approved were seized in the Eastern Regional Office of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA). The division also confiscated forty unlicensed vehicles during two weeks this year. King Godfred Akorligleh, the officer in charge of the National Vehicle Task Force, and his division task force conducted the seizure. Assistant Commissioner of the Customs Division Mary-Anne Okonor, who is in charge of the Eastern Region as Sector Commander, stated that the majority of the seized automobiles were brought into the region illegally, while a small number of legitimately imported vehicles were not taxed.
According to her, several importers had taken advantage of the ECOWAS free movement of persons protocol, which permitted the temporary importation of passenger automobiles by citizens of member states. According to Mrs. Okonor, the protocol stipulates a 90-day limit for individual automobiles and a 15-day limit for commercial vehicles, subject to the presentation of the necessary documentation. She listed the following as requirements for such vehicles: a valid international driver's license, a transcript or diploma, a valid job or residency permit, and an insurance policy recognized by member states (ECOWAS Brown Card). A carnet, a temporary export-import document recognized within the ECOWAS community, should also be in the owner's possession, according to the Assistant Commissioner.
She made the argument that the government should not admit vehicles that do not have these certificates. Taxes, responsibilitiesAdditionally, Mrs. Okonor clarified that non-ECOWAS Ghanaians are not eligible for the temporary car importation protocol and must instead apply to pay the entire amount of tariffs and taxes owing on their automobiles. She claimed that some Ghanaians had taken advantage of the exemption mechanism for vehicles by buying them and then evading taxes and levies. The president, ministries and their departments, diplomats, persons with disabilities (PWDs), free zones, and other government efforts import these vehicles, as pointed out by Mrs. Okonor. According to her, buyers of these automobiles must pay customs and taxes. Vehicle traffickingWhen asked about other methods, Mrs. Okonor mentioned smuggling as an option.
This involves illegally importing vehicles into the nation without paying the necessary duties and taxes (Customs Act 891, 2015, Section 55). She made it clear that the people involved in the illegal importation of these automobiles later changed or tampered with the identification or chassis numbers to make them look like legitimate imports with official paperwork. Consequently, she cautioned anyone looking to buy a car in the area or the country to visit the local GRA customs division office to check the vehicle's paperwork and see if any taxes or charges had been paid. Mrs. Okonor pleaded with car owners who had failed to pay their dues to voluntarily report their vehicles to any customs division office in the region so that they may have their taxes and fees determined and paid without incurring any penalties.
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