Accra: The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) have expressed interest in forging a partnership to combat illicit trade by strengthening border control and intelligence sharing between the two countries. This initiative was highlighted during a visit by NCS Comptroller-General Bashir Adeniyi to GRA Commissioner-General Anthony Sarpong at the GRA headquarters in Accra.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Sarpong urged Nigeria and Ghana to bolster intelligence sharing and harmonise customs procedures to support the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement. Represented by Brig.-Gen. Glover Annan, Commissioner of the Customs Division at GRA, Sarpong emphasised the importance of the partnership in promoting best practices in trade operations while upholding integrity.
Sarpong noted that the NCS continued to inspire Ghana’s vision and innovation in customs operations. He described Adeniyi’s visit as key to garnering support for the upcoming Customs-Partnership for African Cooperation in Trade (C-PACT) conference scheduled to take place in Abuja. The C-PACT initiative, developed by the NCS in collaboration with the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), will hold its conference from Nov. 17 to Nov. 19, with support from the World Customs Organisation (WCO).
The initiative aims to set new standards for cross-border cooperation and trade facilitation by establishing a transparent customs framework that promotes lawful trade and sustainable economic growth. Sarpong highlighted the enduring bond between Ghana and Nigeria, underscoring their shared vision to strengthen customs operations.
In his remarks, Adeniyi pointed out that criminal elements were exploiting gaps in Africa’s customs administrations, necessitating collaborative efforts to tackle illicit trade. He suggested that Ghana and Nigeria review their previous agreement on joint customs operations to align with current realities and enhance trade facilitation.
Adeniyi recounted a recent visit to the Netherlands, where he learned about the exploitation of customs gaps by criminals to transport dangerous drugs into Europe. He stressed the importance of close cooperation and intelligence exchange to combat these threats.
Furthermore, Adeniyi’s visit aimed to seek support for the success of the C-PACT conference and explore strategies to enhance customs’ role in increasing trade volumes in Africa under the AfCFTA framework. He expressed a commitment to positioning trade as a source of economic growth and prosperity for Africa, noting the continent’s potential as the largest continental bloc.