The Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Mrs Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, has called for closer cooperation between the Ghana Free Zones Authority and the Customs Division.
She made the call during a meeting on Tuesday with stakeholders following concerns over a directive issued by the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority that halted the processing and receipt of finished goods into the enclaves.
She proposed joint monitoring within Free Zone enclaves to improve compliance.
The meeting was convened after a petition by the Association of Free Zones Enterprises, which cited operational challenges, including disruptions to consignments at the ports and the impact on businesses operating under Commercial Free Zone Licenses.
Discussions centred on finding solutions that uphold regulatory requirements while allowing legitimate businesses to continue operating without disruption.
Commissioner of Customs, Aaron Kanor, noted that the directive was introduced after authorities uncovered cases where some companies were smuggling finished goods into Free Zone enclaves under the guise of compliance.
The Minister said any response must address such breaches without affecting compliant firms, stressing the need for a balanced approach that supports both enforcement and trade.
Irene Wirekoaa Osei, ISD
