Wednesday, 28 October 2026

Ghana’s news, on the hourWork with us

Wednesday, 28 October 2026

Accra—:—London—:—New York—:—Beijing—:—

Ghanaian press · Person

Jutta Urpilainen

Also known as: the Commissioner · Aaron Kanor · Mr Aaron Kanor · Mr. Kanor · Acting Commissioner · Mr Kanor · Commissioner · Customs Commissioner Aaron Kanor

2026-05-052026-10-28

News reports

Order a long-term news report on Jutta Urpilainen

Every mention in the Ghanaian press over the period you choose, compiled as a PDF or Word document.

In coverage

Verbatim sentences from the source article.

August 2026
14 AugJoy Online
… Speaking after a short ceremony to sign the partnership, Commissioner General of the Ghana Revenue Authority, Anthony Kwasi Sarpong, assured that this will be the beginning of a renewed relationship between Ghana and the UK in border protection. …
GRA signs partnership with UK counterpart to strengthen customs protection
7 AugThe Chronicle
The Commissioner of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Mr. …
Customs Commissioner Tours W/R Border Posts
June 2026
2 JunJoy Online
Aaron Kanor, Acting Commissioner of Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority, has called for strengthened collaboration between Ghana and Togo Customs administrations to enhance trade facilitation and revenue mobilisation along the shared border. …
Customs chief pushes Ghana-Togo partnership for trade growth
May 2026
21 MayBusiness & Financial Times
By Evelyn ARTHUR The Director of Port, Tebon Zumah Esq., today received the Acting Commissioner of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority, Mr. …
Tema port deepens customs ties as acting commissioner pays working visit
21 MayThe Chronicle
The Commissioner of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Mr Aaron Kanor, has paid a friendly working visit to the Tema Port, to discuss strategies for maximizing national revenue. …
Customs Commissioner strategizes on how to boost national revenue
8 MayJoy Online
… Ambassador Dr Abdel-Fatau Musah, Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security at the ECOWAS Commission, made the remarks at the Maritime Action Platform III Seminar in Accra. …
ECOWAS reaffirms commitment to strengthening maritime security cooperation in West Africa
5 MayJoy Online
… The EU also reaffirmed its commitment to sustainable development under the global partnerships agenda led by Jutta Urpilainen. …
EU–Ghana relations enter new phase focused on stability and mutual interests

Opinion

Reader questions Ghana customs duty policies on phones, gifts

The News

A Daily Guide reader describes recent encounters with Ghana Customs Service and Ghana Post, questioning whether there is an unannounced "duty payment offensive" or tax-net widening in Ghana. The piece references a GRA clarification from September 2026 stating there is no automatic rule requiring travelers to pay duties for carrying more than two mobile phones into the country, following a public uproar over statements by the Customs Commissioner.

21 October 2026 · Daily Guide →

Wednesday 21 October

Reader questions Ghana customs duty policies on phones, gifts
A Daily Guide reader describes recent encounters with Ghana Customs Service and Ghana Post, questioning whether there is an unannounced "duty payment offensive" or tax-net widening in Ghana. The piece references a GRA clarification from September 2026 stating there is no automatic rule requiring travelers to pay duties for carrying more than two mobile phones into the country, following a public uproar over statements by the Customs Commissioner.
21 October 2026 · Daily Guide →

Wednesday 7 October

GRA forms committee to investigate missing containers at Tema Port
The Ghana Revenue Authority's Commissioner General has established a nine-member investigative committee to probe allegations that 28 containers disappeared, were transferred, or removed without authorization at Tema Port during customs clearance. The containers allegedly contained commodities including cyanide, condensed milk, sardines, alcohol, textiles, pharmaceuticals, black pepper and tomato paste, with some reportedly offloaded to private warehouses or moved from the port without owners' knowledge.
7 October 2026 · Joy Online →

Sunday 13 September

GRA clarifies no statutory limit on duty-free phones for travellers
The Ghana Revenue Authority has clarified that there is no law limiting travellers to two duty-free mobile phones. Customs officers instead assess whether phones and goods are genuinely for personal use or are commercial imports, considering factors like condition, packaging, and quantity rather than applying a fixed numerical limit.
13 September 2026 · Joy Online →

Tuesday 8 September

GRA Commissioner defends customs duty policy on airport gifts
The Commissioner of Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority clarified that items brought into Ghana as gifts do not automatically qualify for duty-free baggage concession under customs laws. Mr Aaron Kanor defended the Customs Division's position and urged the public to debate policies respectfully rather than attack officials for communicating positions deemed uncomfortable.
8 September 2026 · The Chronicle →

Friday 4 September

Lawyer challenges baggage exemption rules at Supreme Court
A lawyer has sued the Attorney-General and GRA Commissioner-General over Regulation 18(2)(b) of the Exemptions Regulations, 2025, which allows the Commissioner-General to determine the quantity of baggage passengers may bring into Ghana. The plaintiff argues that this power constitutes a waiver or variation of tax that requires parliamentary approval under Article 174(2) of the 1992 Constitution.
4 September 2026 · Joy Online →

Thursday 3 September

GRA explains red, green channels at Accra airport
The Customs Division of Ghana Revenue Authority clarified that the Accra International Airport operates red and green channels: the red channel is for travellers with goods to declare (particularly commercial quantities), where duties and taxes are collected, while the green channel is for passengers with nothing to declare, though both channels are subject to Customs scanning and examination. The system aligns with international Customs practices and the revised Kyoto Convention.
3 September 2026 · Joy Online →

Wednesday 2 September

Travelers with multiple new devices must pay commercial duties
Ghana's Customs Commissioner says travelers returning with more than two mobile phones or electronic devices will face commercial duties at arrival. The Commissioner notes that individuals are entitled to carry one or two devices; beyond that is classified as commercial use and subject to taxation.
2 September 2026 · Joy Online →
GRA Customs warns travellers: more than two phones incur duty
Ghana Revenue Authority Customs Commissioner Aaron Kanor warned that travellers arriving with more than two mobile phones will have the devices treated as commercial importation and subjected to customs duty. Travellers are advised to limit phones to personal use and avoid carrying handsets for others, as high-end smartphones are expensive and multiple devices constitute commercial activity.
2 September 2026 · Joy Online →

Thursday 27 August

Customs, port stakeholders address container delays at Tema
The Commissioner of Customs joined senior officials from GPHA, MPS, and other maritime and security agencies to address operational bottlenecks affecting container movement at Tema Port's MPS Terminal 3. Discussions focused on improving coordination, reducing congestion, and shortening cargo turnaround times.
27 August 2026 · The Chronicle →

Thursday 20 August

Customs Commissioner visits Tema to strengthen revenue mobilisation
The Commissioner of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority paid an official working visit to the Tema Collection to strengthen revenue mobilisation and improve operational efficiency at the country's major port. He commended officers for meeting recent revenue targets and urged them to sustain momentum and surpass the annual revenue target.
20 August 2026 · The Chronicle →

Friday 14 August

GRA partners with UK Revenue and Customs on border security
Ghana Revenue Authority has signed a partnership with His Majesty Revenue and Customs of the United Kingdom to promote border security, enhance revenue mobilisation, and facilitate knowledge-sharing on operations between the two countries. The agreement will provide technical assistance and enable exchange of information on border protection and post-clearance audits.
14 August 2026 · Joy Online →

Friday 7 August

GRA Customs Commissioner tours Western Region border posts
Aaron Kanor, the newly appointed Customs Commissioner of the Ghana Revenue Authority, undertook a week-long tour of border posts in the Western Region's Elubo Sector to assess working conditions and strengthen stakeholder collaboration.
7 August 2026 · The Chronicle →

Tuesday 2 June

Ghana Customs chief calls for stronger Ghana-Togo border collaboration
Aaron Kanor, Acting Commissioner of Ghana's Customs Division, has called for strengthened collaboration between Ghana and Togo Customs administrations to enhance trade facilitation and revenue mobilisation along their shared border. During a visit to the Aflao Collection, he urged officers to balance revenue collection with legitimate trade facilitation and to guide traders on customs procedures.
2 June 2026 · Joy Online →

Thursday 21 May

Tema port and customs deepen collaboration on trade facilitation
The Director of Port and the Acting Commissioner of the Customs Division held a working visit at Tema Port to strengthen collaboration and operational efficiency, with discussions centred on enhancing trade facilitation, cargo clearance processes, revenue mobilisation, security, and inter-agency cooperation.
21 May 2026 · Business & Financial Times →
Customs chief visits Tema Port to boost revenue strategy
The Commissioner of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority visited Tema Port to discuss strategies for maximizing national revenue, focusing on transit trade operations and deepening cooperation between the two institutions. He urged officials to block revenue leakages and streamline port processes to enhance Ghana's competitiveness as a trade hub.
21 May 2026 · The Chronicle →

Friday 8 May

ECOWAS strengthens maritime security cooperation in West Africa
ECOWAS reaffirmed its commitment to supporting regional maritime security initiatives through enhanced cooperation among member states. The Commissioner for Political Affairs noted that coordinated efforts by MMCC Zones and joint annual patrols have contributed to improved security and a marked decline in piracy across the Gulf of Guinea.
8 May 2026 · Joy Online →

Tuesday 5 May

EU shifts Ghana partnership from aid to balanced mutual interests
The European Union is repositioning its nearly 50-year relationship with Ghana from a donor-recipient model to a more balanced partnership focused on reliability, stability, and shared interests. EU Ambassador Rune Skinnebach said the bloc emphasizes consistency as a predictable ally amid global geopolitical uncertainty, with engagement now spanning trade, governance, infrastructure, and private sector collaboration.
5 May 2026 · Joy Online →