Poor cargo descriptions, missing supporting documents and inaccurate declarations are delaying customs clearance and increasing costs for importers, the Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana has warned.
The Association’s Executive Secretary, Samson Asaki Awingobit, siad that importers must provide accurate information about their goods and attach all relevant documents before customs declarations are submitted.
His comments follow a call by the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) for importers and exporters to minimise documentation errors to improve clearance efficiency.
Mr Awingobit explained that incomplete or inaccurate declarations force customs officers to seek clarification or exercise their discretion, prolonging the clearance process and delaying cargo release.
“If the agent will do a declaration without giving appropriate description, cost or receipt attached to a particular product, then of course the customs officer will have to use his own discretion,” he said.
He urged importers not to leave the entire process to clearing agents, stressing that they are responsible for providing the correct details of the goods they purchase.
“You are the one who bought it and you know what type of commodity that you bought it,” he said, calling on importers to ensure that product descriptions, declared values, invoices and other supporting documents are accurate.
Mr Awingobit also encouraged businesses to take advantage of pre-arrival clearance by submitting shipping documents to their clearing agents before vessels reach the ports.
“When cargo is on the way coming, you can tell your agent to start processing as soon as you have the ship set sail and you receive your original bill of lading,” he said.
He explained that early processing would help identify and resolve documentation gaps before cargo arrives, reducing delays and additional charges such as port rent and demurrage.
Mr Awingobit said sustained education and closer collaboration between importers and clearing agents would be essential to improving declaration accuracy and speeding up cargo clearance.
