International travellers arriving in Ghana can breathe a sigh of relief following clarification from the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) over recent confusion surrounding Customs charges on personal mobile phones brought into the country.
The revenue body moved to dispel widespread rumors that border officials apply an automatic duty charge on anyone carrying more than two mobile devices. The public debate gained momentum following recent statements regarding passenger baggage policies, prompting the GRA to set the record straight.
”It is not an automatic rule that a traveller carrying more than two mobile phones will be required to pay Customs duty,” the Authority clarified. “The key consideration is whether the items being carried are genuinely for the passenger’s personal use or whether, based on the circumstances, they are being imported for another person, for sale, distribution or other commercial purposes.”
To prevent unfair taxation on ordinary passengers while maintaining border enforcement against illegal commercial imports, Customs officers perform individual evaluations at port entries. Key indicators include whether devices are unboxed or brand new, their packaging, and the total volume of identical items being transported.
”A traveller may therefore legitimately carry more than one phone for personal reasons, such as a work device or a replacement handset, without the items necessarily being treated as commercial imports,” the GRA emphasized, adding that mentions of specific phone numbers during previous discussions were merely illustrative examples rather than strict limits.
The legal framework relies on the Exemptions Act, 2022 (Act 1083), which protects passenger concessions while ensuring commercial importers pay their fair share of taxes.
Addressing concerns from the diaspora and frequent flyers, the GRA reaffirmed that airport checks are designed to protect trade, not harass citizens returning home.
”The purpose of Customs controls is not to inconvenience legitimate travellers, including Ghanaians returning home with personal belongings or reasonable gifts for family,” the GRA stated. “The objective is to facilitate legitimate travel while ensuring that goods imported for commercial purposes are appropriately declared.”
Under standard airport protocols, passengers carrying strictly personal items are instructed to use the green channel. Those carrying bulk goods or who remain uncertain about their luggage status should opt for the red channel to declare items with Customs officials.
