The Food and Beverages Association of Ghana (FABAG) has issued a stark warning that the hasty rollout of the Publican Artificial Intelligence (AI) customs valuation system at Ghana’s ports risks triggering sharp increases in consumer prices for food and beverages, calling for its immediate suspension and comprehensive review.
FABAG Executive Chairman Rev. John Awuni described the system as “disruptive,” noting that its rigid application ignores commercial realities and adds multiple layers of bureaucracy at the ports. “The AI system doesn’t recognise any negotiation you have with your customers,” he stated, highlighting how the technology fails to account for negotiated pricing, used goods, and non-standard imports common in the sector. He warned that prolonged delays and inflated duties could collapse businesses reliant on imported raw materials and packaging.
The Publican AI system, introduced in early 2026 to enhance revenue collection and combat under-valuation, has instead sparked widespread complaints from traders, freight forwarders, and manufacturers. Similar concerns have been raised by the Ghana Union of Traders’ Associations (GUTA), which directed members to halt imports and duty payments pending resolution. Critics argue the AI overvalues goods, leading to higher import costs that will inevitably be passed on to consumers already grappling with living expenses.
This latest disruption comes as the NDC administration confronts mounting fiscal pressures of its own creation. Independent analysis by the Centre for Policy Scrutiny projects that the government’s populist abolition of the E-Levy and COVID-19 Health Recovery Levy will cost the nation GH¢18.15 billion in revenue by 2027 — GH¢8.2 billion from the E-Levy and GH¢9.95 billion from the COVID-19 levy. These levies, introduced under the previous NPP government to broaden the tax base and support fiscal recovery, were scrapped despite warnings about their stabilising role.
The NPP has long advocated for smart, efficient technology to modernise customs and improve revenue mobilisation without stifling private enterprise. However, effective digital reforms require careful piloting, stakeholder consultation, and safeguards against unintended consequences — principles seemingly overlooked in the rushed implementation of Publican AI. Poorly designed systems that raise the cost of doing business undermine the very private-sector-led growth essential for job creation and poverty reduction.
Ghana’s ports are critical gateways for imports that feed manufacturing and distribution. Any policy that inflates costs or creates uncertainty directly hurts manufacturers, distributors, and ultimately ordinary consumers. At a time when fiscal discipline is paramount, the government must avoid measures that exacerbate inflationary pressures or erode competitiveness.
The current administration should heed FABAG’s call for suspension and engage in genuine dialogue to refine the system.
