Ghana's AI Customs System Sparks Trade Dispute

Ghana Revenue Authority has mandated the Publican AI System as the primary tool for import valuation at ports, aiming to curb under-invoicing, reduce discretion, and modernize customs administration. The government views it as a critical reform, with the Ministry of Finance warning against efforts to undermine it. However, freight forwarders, traders, and industry groups are pushing back, citing inflated valuations, lack of transparency, and erosion of professional judgment. Legal experts warn the system may conflict with WTO customs valuation rules, which require transaction value as the primary basis for assessments, not AI-generated benchmarks.