The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has introduced a new artificial intelligence system, Publican AI, to combat import duty fraud and strengthen revenue collection at the country’s ports.

The commissioner-general of the authority, Anthony Sarpong, said the technology is aimed at addressing persistent challenges such as under-declaration, misclassification, and undervaluation of imported goods.

Speaking on Metro TV Ghana on 13 April, Sarpong said the system forms part of broader efforts to plug long-standing loopholes in customs operations.

“We have introduced the new artificial intelligence system, Publican AI, to tackle long-standing leakages in customs revenue,” he said.

According to him, import duty fraud has been driven in part by manual processes that allow room for discretion and manipulation.

“Customs revenue has often been undermined by human-dependent processes that leave room for discretion and manipulation,” Sarpong stated. “This has cost the state significant income over the years.”

He outlined three critical areas where the AI system will focus its checks. “The first is the country of origin of goods. “Importers sometimes misstate origin to reduce freight costs and ultimately pay less duty. The second is classification. Every product has a code under global trade rules, and when goods are wrongly classified, it affects the amount of tax paid.”

“The third is valuation,” he added. “Some importers understate the price of goods, making it difficult for customs to determine the true value.”

Sarpong noted that Publican AI enhances verification by cross-checking import declarations against international trade data. “It reviews product classifications, compares declared values with international price ranges, and verifies supplier information, including the stated country of origin,” he said.

Despite the system’s capabilities, he stressed that customs officers will continue to play a central role in decision-making.

“We are not taking away human oversight,” he said. “The system provides faster and more reliable data, but the final decision still rests with the officer.”

The GRA believes the deployment of the AI tool will improve transparency at the ports, reduce fraudulent practices, and ensure that importers pay the correct duties.

“This will help standardise assessments and reduce reliance on manual judgment,” he said. “Ultimately, it ensures that importers pay the correct duties and that the country protects its revenue.”

The authority says the move marks a significant step in modernising customs administration and safeguarding a key source of government revenue.