The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) is set to implement advanced blockchain technology to address the widespread abuse of Import Declaration Forms (IDFs), according to Commissioner-General Anthony Kwasi Sarpong.
During the KPMG–UNDP 2026 Post-Budget Forum in Accra, which was themed “Resetting for Growth, Jobs and Economic Transformation,” Mr. Sarpong revealed the findings of a five-year study that uncovered significant misuse of IDFs. The study indicated that more than $45 billion was moved out of Ghana, with only about $7 billion associated with genuine trade. He explained, “People go in, fill IDF forms indicating an intent to import, and subsequently take them to the bank. The bank then transfers money as an advance for the import, but the goods never arrive, and neither does the money return.”
To combat this issue, the GRA will invest in an Advanced Cargo Information system that utilizes blockchain technology. This system will link IDF applications to the actual movement of goods, enabling authorities to verify whether the funds used for imports correspond to real shipments. Information will be shared with the banking system within three months of a transaction, allowing for the swift detection of irregularities.
Mr. Sarpong emphasized that the GRA will take firm action against those exploiting the system, stating, “We will definitely come after those who are violating the rules in these areas.”
This initiative is in line with findings from the Finance Minister’s 2026 Budget assessment, which revealed that between April 2020 and August 2025, over 525,000 transactions totaling approximately $83 billion were processed through Ghana’s Integrated Customs Management System. However, only a small fraction of these transactions were linked to actual imports, with an estimated $31 billion transferred abroad without any goods entering the country.
The audit also uncovered significant under-reporting of import values, revealing approximately GH¢76 billion in hidden imports. Additionally, more than 17,700 transactions exceeded the Bank of Ghana’s $200,000 limit, resulting in around $20 billion in unverified transfers.
In response to these findings, the GRA plans to establish a special recovery unit to reclaim lost revenue. Furthermore, key authorities, including the Attorney-General, the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO), the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC), and the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), have been engaged to investigate the organized abuse of the IDF system.
