Commissioner-General of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Anthony Sarpong, has defended the new AI system.
He addressed concerns about the credibility and transparency of AI-based customs decisions, insisting that the system is grounded in verified international trade data.
“You can’t challenge it because it’s what the AI says,” he stated. “What the AI generates is what customs officers are going to base their decisions on.”
He explained that the system cross-checks import declarations against global pricing databases.
“For example, if someone says they bought a chair for GH¢100, the AI checks similar transactions globally, the lowest, the highest, and the average, before making an assessment,” he said.
He noted that if a declared price falls outside expected ranges, importers are required to provide documentation such as contracts or payment records.
“If the AI has never seen that item at GH¢20 when the range is GH¢50 to GH¢150, then we ask for evidence. That is fairness and transparency,” he added.
According to him, the system helps ensure equity between government revenue protection and importer declarations.
