By News Desk
Time is running out for motorists driving illegally imported cars on Ghanaian roads. The Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has issued a final reminder to owners and users of uncustomed vehicles across the country, urging them to immediately utilize the ongoing tax amnesty before the fast-approaching July 31 deadline.
The two-month grace period, which took effect on June 1, offers vehicle owners whose cars were illegally imported or smuggled into the country the rare opportunity to regularize their documentation completely free of the hefty penalties usually associated with such infractions.
Speaking on behalf of the Authority at a sensitization forum, Mr. David Agyakwa Mensah, a Senior Revenue Officer at the Customs Technical Services Bureau (CTSB) Vehicle Valuation Unit, highlighted that the initiative was rolled out by the Commissioner-General as a benevolent window to improve compliance under favorable conditions.
“Under the amnesty arrangement, owners will only be required to pay the applicable import duties, while penalties associated with the seizure of uncustomed vehicles will be waived,” Mr. Mensah explained.
He further appealed to the public, saying, “I encourage all affected vehicle owners to visit any Customs office across the country before the deadline to complete the regularization process. Take advantage of this initiative to avoid enforcement action after the amnesty period expires.”
Ordinarily, the use of undocumented or uncustomed vehicles attracts stringent financial penalties and immediate forfeiture under national customs laws. However, the GRA has chosen to pivot toward a more collaborative, customer-centric model of tax administration to bridge the revenue gap.
The Deputy Commissioner of GRA in charge of Operations, Daniel Edisi, noted that the authority has intentionally stepped away from aggressive tactics in favor of civil engagement.
“It is now a bit of collaboration and education. Going forward, this is the strategy we are using and it is already gaining some advantages for us to be able to meet the target of the end of the year,” Mr. Edisi stated, describing the strategy as a modern, friendly approach to plugging revenue leakages.
The initiative has also won the vital backing of major commercial stakeholders. The Vehicle and Assets Dealers Union of Ghana (VADUG) explicitly endorsed the GRA’s efforts, arguing that uncustomed cars severely disadvantage compliant businesses and warp local automobile prices.
Frank Atanley, the General Secretary of VADUG, strictly advised vehicle sellers and drivers to comply before the gate shuts.
“We stand with such programmes that will eradicate some of these cancers from our roads,” Mr. Atanley said. “It will not speak well on a dealer or a person who is selling vehicles that are undocumented. I think the GRA and the Customs Division have been very benevolent by giving people the room to rectify their wrongs. It is welcome news… People should take advantage of that amnesty to do the needful.”
The GRA has firmly cautioned that the lenient posture will abruptly end when the calendar turns. Beginning August 1, the Customs Division’s preventive and enforcement units will launch comprehensive, unannounced checkpoints and road inspections nationwide to impound defaulting vehicles.
Affected vehicle owners are strongly advised to report directly to the nearest Customs Collection office or the GRA Headquarters in Accra to have their vehicles assessed, cleared, and legally registered via the Integrated Customs Management System (ICUMS).
