Kanor Warns Travelers Over Excess Phones at Airport
The Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority has issued a stringent advisory capping the quantity of mobile devices permissible for personal carriage through the country’s airports, declaring that possession beyond the threshold will attract commercial import classification. The directive aims to curb covert trading under the guise of personal baggage.
Customs Commissioner Aaron Kanor clarified that inbound passengers should not carry more than two handsets, emphasizing that any surplus will be deemed merchandise intended for sale and thus subjected to prevailing import duties, valuation protocols, and regulatory scrutiny. The pronouncement seeks to eliminate ambiguity that has historically complicated passenger clearance.
Responding to public concerns regarding enforcement, the Commissioner stated that travelers should not bring more than two phones into the country, anything beyond that will be considered commercial importation at the airport. He explained that the measure is not punitive but aligned with customs codification that distinguishes personal effects from tradable inventory.
According to #GRA Customs, the clarification forms part of broader efforts to sanitize revenue leakage at entry points while ensuring equitable treatment of legitimate traders who comply with declaration obligations. Officers have been instructed to apply the rule uniformly, with appropriate receipts and assessment documentation provided where duties become applicable.
The advisory emerges amid escalating interception of undeclared electronics concealed in luggage, a practice that undermines domestic retail regulation and fiscal projections. Industry observers note that Ghana’s burgeoning demand for smartphones has incentivized informal importation, prompting authorities to tighten enforcement without stifling genuine personal usage.
Travelers are therefore urged to adhere to disclosure requirements and anticipate duty assessment for additional devices, as the Authority intensifies sensitization to foster voluntary compliance and seamless airport facilitation.
Source: #GRA Customs
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Author: Korkor Anumu
