One of the trucks impounded by the National Security
Seven long-haul trucks transporting export goods to Burkina Faso were impounded by National Security operatives in the Ashanti Region on July 13, 2025.
The National Security claimed the trucks were impounded on suspicion of diverting goods, as the vehicles were intercepted unloading the goods in Kumasi rather than continuing to their intended destination.
According to National Security, the trucks were cleared at the Tema Port and destined for neighboring Burkina Faso; however, they suspected that the vehicles diverted from their route in an attempt to evade border duty payments.
The trucks were intercepted at Nkawkaw, in the Eastern Region, and escorted to Kumasi as part of investigations by National Security officials to ascertain the actual destination.
Although the truck drivers maintained they were transporting goods to Burkina Faso, officials argued the consignment was being diverted to Kumasi and other parts of the Ashanti Region in an alleged attempt by the owners to evade taxes.
They also added that they collaborated with Customs officers to escort all the trucks to Kumasi.
However, it appears that a conflict has emerged between National Security and the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority, with the latter disputing the former’s claims.
In response to the National Security’s claim that the trucks were diverting goods to evade tax payments, the Customs Division issued a surprising counterstatement, asserting that the vehicles were following their approved route and refuting allegations of diversion.
Peter Ofori Antobreh, Deputy Commissioner for Preventive at the Customs Division, described the National Security’s claims as misleading and inaccurate, while speaking in an interview with Citi News on Monday, July 14, 2025.
He maintained that no diversions had occurred, stating that his unit was actively monitoring the trucks, and surveillance confirmed that they had not engaged in any illegal activities.
“The vehicles were on the right path, there was nothing like diversion. The vehicles were being monitored by Customs and were not involved in anything untoward,” Antobreh stated.
The Customs Division’s rebuttal and newly disclosed information regarding the impounded trucks have raised alarming concerns about the lack of collaboration and coordination between the two key government agencies, as well as weaknesses in monitoring the movement of goods across Ghana’s borders.
MAG/AE
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