Publican AI has become a major point of contention in Ghana’s trading sector, prompting an emergency meeting between government and industry players.
The minister for transport, Joseph Nikpe Bukari, is scheduled to meet leaders of the Ghana Union of Traders Association on Thursday, April 16, to address concerns over the system.
The meeting follows a sit-down strike by freight forwarders and clearing agents on Monday, April 13. The protest was triggered by the implementation of Publican AI at the country’s ports.
Operators argue that the rollout lacked adequate consultation and clarity, raising concerns about its impact on port operations and trade facilitation.
Speaking after a meeting with the Ghana Shippers Authority, GUTA Vice President Joseph Paddy said the association had requested a temporary suspension of the system pending further engagement.
“Beyond the sit-down strike by our agents, there are so many programs and activities we want to embark on.
“We also told the chief executive officer that the program should be suspended, but he gave us assurance that the transport minister was interested in this thing, but he has unfortunately travelled, and so we should give him two days.
“He will be meeting us on Thursday in the morning as soon as possible to solve all the challenges,” he said.
The Publican AI system is intended to improve efficiency and transparency in clearing imports, but industry players continue to call for broader stakeholder engagement before full implementation.
Background of Publican AI System
From the perspective of the Ghanaian government, the Publican AI System is a critical intervention aimed at safeguarding national revenue and modernising port operations. The primary driver behind this initiative is the scale of revenue loss attributed to trade malpractices.
According to government estimates, between 2020 and 2025, Ghana recorded imports valued at approximately US$127 billion, yet only US$52 billion was declared for customs purposes. The new AI system is projected to plug these leakages by detecting undervaluation, misclassification, and other forms of import fraud.
The Ministry of Finance and the GRA assert that the system empowers customs officers by providing instant access to credible international trade benchmarks. This digital transition shifts the clearance process from manual vetting to advanced, data-driven inspection.
To ensure compliance, the GRA has issued strict directives mandating that customs officers rely on datasets, risk assessments, and decision outputs generated by the AI system as the primary basis for valuation.
