Makola and Abossey Okai named in crime index as fake goods trade grows
Makola and Abossey Okai have been named in the 2025 Organised Crime Index as places where fake goods are sold, with the report saying the trade is becoming a bigger problem in Ghana. The index by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime and the ENACT project scores Ghana’s trade in counterfeit goods at 5.5 […]
Makola and Abossey Okai have earned spots on the 2025 Organized Crime Index due to the surge in fake goods trade, a problem that is escalating in Ghana. The Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime and the ENACT project produced the index, rating Ghana's counterfeit goods trade at 5.5 out of 10, an increase of 0.5 from the previous edition.
Markets in Makola sell textiles with fakes, while Abossey Okai specializes in counterfeit car spare parts. Most electrical items bought in Accra are likely to be fraudulent and non-compliant with safety standards. Medicines are also part of the illegal trade. Many counterfeits reportedly originate in Chinese factories and enter Ghana via the Port of Tema.
The report notes that illicit trade in excisable goods has worsened, with tobacco and alcohol at the top of the list, scoring 5.0, also up by 0.5. The porous borders, particularly with Togo and Burkina Faso, ease smuggling, with the port of Lomé being a crucial transit point. High excise taxes drive smuggling and illegal production, aided by organized groups and corruption in customs and law enforcement.
Ghana's overall criminality score stands at 5.77, placing it 68th out of 193 countries, 21st among African nations, and 6th within West Africa.
Written by urgent.news from Adom Online's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
