GRA Committee: Tema Port Missing Containers Probe Launched

• The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has formed a nine-member committee to investigate the alleged disappearance of 28 containers from Tema Port.
• The probe, initiated on October 7, 2026, follows a petition from importers alleging unauthorized removal and transfer of goods.
• Chaired by Acting Commissioner of Customs Mr. Aaron Kanor, the committee must report its findings within 14 days.
• Its mandate includes reviewing ICUMS data, identifying customs procedure breaches, and assessing revenue losses.
• The GRA views the allegations as serious due to their potential impact on revenue assurance, port security, and the Authority's reputation.

Lawyers advising importers and exporters in Ghana should closely monitor the findings of this GRA committee, as the investigation into alleged customs breaches and container disappearances at Tema Port could lead to stricter enforcement of customs procedures, increased scrutiny of documentation, or new regulations impacting supply chain compliance and revenue assurance.

The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has initiated a high-level investigation into the alleged disappearance and unauthorized transfer of 28 shipping containers from Tema Port. On October 7, 2026, the Commissioner General of the GRA, Anthony Kwasi Sarpong, formally established a nine-member committee tasked with probing these serious allegations.

This significant GRA committee Tema Port missing containers probe was prompted by a petition submitted on September 29, 2026. Importers and their representatives addressed the petition directly to Commissioner-General Sarpong, urgently requesting an inquiry into the whereabouts of the consignments. The allegations suggest a systemic breakdown in control, with containers reportedly vanishing or being diverted without proper authorization.

The petition detailed that the 28 containers were at various stages of the customs clearance process when they were subsequently discovered to be empty, entirely missing, transferred to private warehouses, or removed from the port premises without the knowledge of their rightful owners. Specific petitioners, including agents Elvis Kwabena Awuah and Ibrahim Amadou, alongside importer representatives Amadu Diande and Amadou Djiguba, provided several Bill of Lading numbers to support their claims.

The affected consignments reportedly contained a diverse range of commodities, including cyanide, condensed milk, sardines, alcohol, textiles, pharmaceuticals, black pepper, and tomato paste. Further allegations in the petition indicated that some containers were offloaded into private warehouses located near the GHACEM enclave, while others were purportedly moved out of the port entirely without the owners' consent. The gravity of the situation is underscored by the fact that the matter has also been reported to the Tema Regional Police Command, leading to some arrests, though suspects have since been granted police enquiry bail.

The investigative body, known as the Fact-Finding and Investigative Committee, is chaired by Mr. Aaron Kanor, the Acting Commissioner of Customs. Elsie Appau-Klu, Technical Advisor to the Commissioner-General, serves as both a member and the Secretary. Other key members include Freeman Sarbah, Head of Legal; Mrs. Theresa Potakey, Head of Customs Port Operations; Mr. Alphonse Quainoo, Head of Post Clearance Audit (PCA); Mr. Charles Agbeko, Head of Preventive; Mr. Divine Agbeko, Head of P&P; Mr. Patrick Intarmah, Head of Investigations, EGG; and Gerald Agbetor, ICUMS System Administrator. AC DMCE Diana Ayorkor Agbenyega will assist the committee in its work.

The committee's comprehensive mandate includes establishing the veracity of the petition's claims and determining the precise status and whereabouts of all 28 containers. A critical aspect of their work involves a thorough ICUMS data trail review Ghana, examining UCL records, gazetting processes, and gate-out logs linked to the affected bills of lading. They are also tasked with identifying any customs clearance procedure breaches Ghana, pinpointing any GRA officers or external collaborators involved, and quantifying any revenue losses resulting from these incidents, alongside recommending recovery measures. Furthermore, the committee will investigate allegations of possible cartel activity and the alleged misuse of high-ranking officials' names, ultimately proposing administrative and systems-related measures to prevent future occurrences.

Commissioner-General Anthony Kwasi Sarpong emphasized the profound seriousness with which management views these allegations. He highlighted their potential implications for revenue assurance implications Tema Port, overall port security, and the reputation of the Ghana Revenue Authority itself. The integrity of customs operations and the trust placed in the port system are at stake, making the findings of this Anthony Kwasi Sarpong committee crucial for future trade and regulatory confidence.

The committee has been directed to commence its work immediately and is under strict orders to submit its report within 14 days from the date of the memorandum. All heads of divisions, the Tema Collection, and relevant stakeholders have been instructed to provide their utmost cooperation to facilitate the Tema Port container disappearance probe. Lawyers advising importers and exporters in Ghana should closely monitor the findings of this GRA committee, as the investigation into alleged customs breaches and container disappearances at Tema Port could lead to stricter enforcement of customs procedures, increased scrutiny of documentation, or new regulations impacting supply chain compliance and revenue assurance.

Lawyers advising importers and exporters in Ghana should closely monitor the findings of this GRA committee. The investigation into alleged customs breaches and container disappearances at Tema Port could lead to stricter enforcement of customs procedures, increased scrutiny of documentation, or new regulations impacting supply chain compliance and revenue assurance.

Source: Original reporting via Abubakar Ibrahim