Ghana bans land transit of cooking oil to tighten customs control

The government of Ghana has banned the transit of commercial quantities of cooking oil through its land borders. From now on, all such shipments must be processed exclusively through the country’s seaports. The decision was announced by Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson following the discovery of a suspected large-scale transit diversion scheme.

The move comes after authorities intercepted 18 trucks officially declared as carrying cooking oil in transit to Niger. Officials suspect the shipments may have been part of a broader scheme to divert goods and potentially sell them illegally within the country.

Under the new directive, all cooking oil consignments destined for landlocked countries must now be cleared only through Ghana’s seaports. These facilities are equipped with stricter valuation procedures, electronic tracking systems, cargo scanning, and layered customs controls designed to prevent fraud and ensure transparency.

The decision follows recent inspections of land border posts conducted by senior officials from the Ministry of Finance and the customs authority. The government expects the new measure to strengthen oversight of transit trade, improve compliance, and reduce revenue losses.

Tags: edible oils, Ghana