The National Cross-Border Women Traders Association (NCBWTA) has welcomed the newly appointed Aflao Sector Commander of Customs, Assistant Commissioner Emmanuel Duh to office, extending its goodwill and support as he assumes the critical leadership responsibility at one of Ghana’s most strategic border posts.
“As an association representing thousands of small-scale and medium-scale women traders operating along and across the Aflao border, we wish to formally assure the Sector Commander of our full commitment to supporting his mandate, particularly in achieving the ambitious 30% increase in revenue target set for the sector,” the association said in a press statement.
“We strongly believe that this target is realistic and achievable if the new leadership builds on the proven governance model of his predecessor—anchored in stakeholder engagement, participatory leadership, and inclusive enforcement mechanisms,” the statement added.
According to the NCBWTA, the previous administration demonstrated that when Customs works collaboratively with organized trader groups, especially through the structured inclusion of the National Cross-Border Women Traders Association (NCBWTA) in compliance education, sensitisation, and enforcement processes, voluntary compliance improves, revenue leakages reduce, and trust in border governance is strengthened.
The NCBWTA reiterated that compliance is best achieved through cooperation, not coercion, and through systems that promote understanding of trade regulations, simplified procedures, and shared responsibility for revenue mobilisation. “Women traders are not adversaries of state revenue; they are partners in national development when properly engaged, informed, and integrated into border management systems.”
The association is confident that the GH ₵1 billion 2026 revenue milestone for the Aflao sector is attainable if collaborative frameworks are institutionalised—bringing together customs, trader associations, border agencies, traditional authorities, and civil society actors in a coordinated and inclusive governance structure.
In this regard, the NCBWTA said, it was committed to
supporting Customs-led compliance education and sensitisation programmes, mobilising women traders for voluntary compliance initiatives, participating in stakeholder platforms for border governance, promoting ethical trade practices among its members as well as strengthening information flow between traders and regulatory institutions.
In conclusion, the NCBWTA said it was looking forward to a relationship founded on mutual respect, dialogue, transparency, and partnership, and stood ready to work with the new Sector Commander to deliver sustainable revenue growth, orderly trade, and inclusive border development.