Customs Commissioner Clarifies Duty On Airport Gifts

The Commissioner of Customs Division at Ghana's Revenue Authority, Aaron Kanor, has addressed confusion about duty payments on phones and other personal items purchased at airports and gifted to friends or family in Ghana. In an official post on the GRA's website, Mr. Kanor defended the Customs Division's stance and urged the public to differentiate between the application of established laws and individual viewpoints of public officials.

When asked about the controversy, he stated that if the regulation was incorrect, the facts would reveal it. If the policy needed clarification, the GRA would provide it. If the law required amendment, Parliament would make the necessary changes. He cautioned against discouraging public officials from discussing challenging topics to avoid job loss.

Mr. Kanor emphasized that the truth can be uncomfortable but is not inherently false. He encouraged the public to listen, question respectfully, and engage in policy debates rather than targeting officials for expressing potentially uncomfortable positions. He referenced Section 17 of the Exemptions Act (Act 1083), which outlines exemptions for baggage accompanying passengers into Ghana.

This exemption does not include items intended for sale, barter, exchange, or as gifts. The law also exempts personal effects of a deceased Ghanaian from customs duties and taxes. The Minister of Finance is responsible for prescribing regulations on the permissible quantities and types of imports covered by the baggage exemption.

Mr. Kanor clarified that the distinction lies between personal baggage and gifts, noting that goods received as gifts do not qualify for the duty-free baggage concession. This distinction is crucial as some individuals allegedly exploit the system by sending goods abroad with the intention of selling them in Ghana without paying taxes.

The clarification comes after public debate over the treatment of mobile phones and other items brought into Ghana as gifts, with questions about whether these items should incur customs duties.