By Philip Antoh
The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has impounded 10 trucks filled with diesel in a significant operation that saved the state an estimated $2.3 million in tax losses.
At a press conference in Accra, Mr. Anthony Kwasi Sarpong, the Commissioner-General of the GRA, revealed that the trucks which were carrying around 540,000 litres of automotive gas oil (AGO) were captured through a collaborative effort between the Customs Preventive Unit and the National Security.
The interception took place between the night of October 7 and the early morning of October 8, 2025, after receiving intelligence that the so-called “export” shipment was being illegally diverted.
Mr. Sarpong explained that the trucks had been declared for export which typically incurs no tax but when they arrived at the port, there was no vessel assigned to take the shipment.
Investigations showed that the tracking devices on the tankers had been tampered with and turned off, and the trucks left the port under the cover of darkness around 3:00 a.m.
The joint enforcement team quickly intervened and intercepted all ten trucks within the port area. They have since been confiscated under Sections 115(1), 118(1), and 124(1) of the Customs Act, 2015 (Act 891), while investigations are ongoing.
Mr. Sarpong stated that this operation revealed a repeated pattern of fuel diversion and tax evasion, which has cost Ghana millions in lost revenue over time. He cautioned that oil marketing companies (OMCs) and individuals found involved will face serious penalties and legal consequences.
“The Authority will not accept any attempts to defraud the state or compromise the integrity of our petroleum export system,” Mr. Sarpong asserted. “Illegal fuel exportation and tax evasion are forms of economic sabotage, and we will pursue them vigorously.
He stressed that with President John Dramani Mahama at the helm, and in accordance with the national plan to revitalize Ghana’s economy and restore trust in the revenue system, the GRA is committed to stopping revenue losses and protecting state assets.
The Commissioner-General called on all petroleum operators, depots, and transporters to follow export and tax regulations closely, warning that the GRA, along with the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) and National Security, will enhance monitoring and enforcement across the country.
Mr. Sarpong ended by expressing gratitude to the media for their assistance and urged them to help increase public awareness about the ongoing enforcement actions aimed at safeguarding national revenue for the development and benefit of all Ghanaians.