The Traders Advocacy Group Ghana (TAGG) is demanding full public disclosure and an independent review of Parliament’s recently approved agreement between the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and TRUEDARE Investments Limited for the introduction of a digital customs tracking and artificial intelligence audit system.
In a statement dated December 28, 2025, TAGG said the deal raises serious questions about transparency, value for money, and the long-term cost implications for traders and consumers, despite claims that the system will be implemented at “no additional cost to the state.”
TAGG is calling on the government to publish the full contract, including its financial model and technical details, and to subject the agreement to an independent technical and value-for-money assessment.
The group argues that without these steps, Parliament and the public cannot properly assess the risks and economic burden associated with the deal.
“TAGG calls for the following actions: 1. Full Disclosure of the TRUEDARE Contract. The Government must publish the entire agreement. financial model, and technical annexes of the GRA—TRUEDARE deal, subject only to justified security redactions. 2. Independent Technical & Value-for-Money Review Parliament must commission an independent audit of ICUMS and the proposed TRUEDARE system to determine: a. Any real gaps in ICUMS, b. If said gaps could be addressed within the current architecture. c. Whether TRUEDARE represents value for money compared to alternatives.”
According to TAGG, the agreement is intended to introduce a digital inspection and container tracking system to supplement the Integrated Customs Management System (ICUMS), improve cargo monitoring and boost revenue mobilisation. However, the group notes that ICUMS, which has been in operation since 2020, already provides end-to-end customs data management, including risk assessment, post-clearance audit and cargo tracking.
TAGG insists that if the government believes there are material gaps in ICUMS, the technical evidence supporting that position should be made public.
“Any justification for introducing a parallel system must be openly scrutinised, not shrouded in secrecy,” the group said.
The advocacy group also raised concerns about the capacity and background of TRUEDARE Investments Limited. TAGG said its review of corporate records shows the company was incorporated in Cyprus in December 2024, has minimal issued share capital and lists general trading as its business object, rather than customs technology or digital inspection services.
TAGG said it found no public evidence that TRUEDARE has previously designed or operated large-scale customs systems, AI audit platforms or container tracking solutions.
On that basis, the group described it as risky to award a critical national digital mandate to what it termed a newly incorporated and minimally capitalised offshore company without full disclosure of its technical capacity, ownership structure and the rationale for its selection over other providers.
The group further challenged the claim that the project will come at no cost to the state, arguing that in practice the financial burden would likely be transferred to traders, importers and ultimately consumers. TAGG questioned whether new fees would be imposed on consignments or containers, whether there is a revenue-sharing arrangement with the contractor, and what the total financial exposure would be over the life of the contract.
Describing the “no cost to the state” claim as misleading, TAGG said the arrangement risks increasing the cost of doing business and raising prices for households if additional charges are passed down the supply chain.
As part of its demands, TAGG is urging Parliament to commission an independent audit of both ICUMS and the proposed TRUEDARE system to determine whether any identified gaps in customs operations can be addressed within the existing ICUMS framework, and whether the new agreement represents value for money.
TAGG said until these concerns are addressed through full disclosure and independent review, the agreement should not be implemented.
