Ghana’s government has collected more than GH¢300 million in additional revenue since deploying an artificial intelligence-powered customs valuation system, Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson announced on Wednesday.
The figure represents a direct uplift in customs duties attributed to the new technology, which aims to reduce undervaluation of imports and improve tax compliance at ports.
For investors and creditors monitoring Ghana’s debt sustainability, the incremental GH¢300 million provides a tangible data point on the effectiveness of digitalization reforms.
The disclosure comes as Accra intensifies efforts to broaden the tax base and curb revenue leakage.
Just hours before the AI announcement, Handelsavisen reported that Forson had highlighted a 60% leakage rate in value-added tax collections, signaling the severity of the fiscal strain facing the West African nation. The AI system targets a different but equally critical revenue stream, focusing on the accuracy of customs declarations rather than domestic consumption taxes.
For investors and creditors monitoring Ghana’s debt sustainability, the incremental GH¢300 million provides a tangible data point on the effectiveness of digitalization reforms.
While the amount is modest relative to the country’s total fiscal deficit, it demonstrates early traction in a strategy that relies on technology to enhance state capacity without raising statutory rates.