Some importers have petitioned the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) to investigate the alleged unauthorised removal, transfer, and diversion of 28 containers from the Tema Port, in a case that has exposed serious questions about cargo security at Ghana’s largest seaport and triggered a high-level fact-finding visit by the GRA Commissioner-General.
In a petition dated September 29, 2026, and addressed to the Commissioner-General of the GRA, Anthony Sarpong, the importers said the affected containers were at various stages of the clearance process when they were allegedly discovered to have been emptied, moved, transferred, or reported missing without the knowledge or consent of their owners. The petition listed the affected containers by their respective bill of lading numbers and urged the GRA to conduct an urgent and comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding their disappearance and movement.
Scale of the Disappearance
According to a status table attached to the petition, seven of the 28 containers were recorded as not found, while 13 were listed as empty—meaning their contents had been removed at some point during the clearance process. Six containers were reportedly located at various terminals, while two had been offloaded into a warehouse.
The containers carried a diverse range of goods, including condensed milk, sardines, alcohol, textiles, pharmaceuticals, black pepper, tomato paste, and cyanide. Of particular concern are five containers declared to contain cyanide, a hazardous chemical used in mining. Two of those containers—numbered MRKU8438492 and MRKU9594777—were reportedly found at the DVLA Preventive Terminal in Tema, while another, TEMU1333716, was located at the GPHA Terminal. Containers SUDU7631650 and TIIU2281806 were listed as not found.
The situation involving tomato paste appears particularly significant. Of the six containers listed, five were recorded as not found, while the remaining container was listed as empty. All three containers carrying sardines were recorded as empty, as were four containers carrying alcohol, three containing textiles, and one declared to contain pharmaceuticals. Two containers carrying black pepper were reportedly offloaded into a warehouse.
Discovery and Arrests
The matter came to light after some owners reportedly discovered that goods from one of the containers were being offloaded into a warehouse near the GHACEM area in Tema. An official complaint has since been lodged with the Tema Regional Police Command, resulting in the arrest of some persons allegedly connected to the incident.
The petition was signed by two clearing agents, Elvis Kwabena Awuah and Ibrahim Amadou, and by importer representatives Amadu Diande and Amadou Djiguba. It was copied to several institutions, including the Commissioner of the Customs Division, the Director and Security Manager of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), National Security at Tema, and the Bureau of National Investigations.
GRA Leadership Visits Tema Port
The scale of the allegations prompted the Commissioner-General of the GRA, Anthony Sarpong, and the Commissioner of the Customs Division, Aaron Kanor, to visit the Tema Port as part of a fact-finding exercise. The visit came amid reports that more importers and their agents were raising concerns about containers they could not trace, or whose contents could not be accounted for even after the containers themselves had been located.
The GRA leadership’s visit followed a high-level meeting at the GRA headquarters in Accra on Saturday, September 26, 2026, attended by the Commissioner-General, the Acting Commissioner of Customs, the Acting Deputy Commissioner in charge of Operations, and the Acting Deputy Commissioner in charge of Post Clearance Audit. During that meeting, a clearing agent identified as Ibrahim, representing an importer, reportedly told officials that about 150 containers belonging to his client could not be traced. He was subsequently asked to formally lodge a petition concerning the missing consignments.
Broader Cartel Allegations
The development is part of a wider investigation into what authorities suspect is an organised cartel involved in the illegal removal and diversion of containers from the Tema Port. According to investigations by The Herald, the disappearance of approximately 25 container loads of imported goods was uncovered in September 2026, with only four containers traced at the time. The goods were in transit to Burkina Faso, Mali, and Côte d’Ivoire.
On Saturday, September 19, 2026, several attempts were made to move containers to the GPHA terminal at Kpone. The vigilance of Customs Division officials and police reportedly led to the interception of some containers, which were subsequently escorted to the regional office and secured. However, in a development that raised further concerns, the containers reportedly disappeared before dawn the following morning, suggesting that persons involved in the operation had the capacity to remove evidence even after law enforcement intervention.
The Herald’s investigations have since indicated that the number of containers reported missing could be considerably higher than initially estimated, with some accounts putting the figure as high as 210 containers. Clearing agents identified as Zongo and Blay have reportedly raised concerns with Customs—Zongo is seeking to account for about 60 containers, up from an initial 16 reported as missing.
Questions Over Confiscated Assets Committee
The alleged disappearance and diversion have raised questions about the possible involvement of officials and influential persons, including Prince Awuku, identified by some importers and clearing agents as the Chairman of the Confiscated Assets Committee. Mr Awuku has denied the allegation.
The Herald has learnt that some persons arrested in connection with the disappearance told investigators that the Confiscated Assets Committee was the entity that sent them to move some of the containers—claims that have not been independently established.
Among the key questions being raised is whether it is a coincidence that the containers reported missing were on the Uncleared Cargo List (UCL), and why some were allegedly sent empty to the Kpone Utility Terminal, a facility owned and managed by the GPHA and primarily intended for the handling of transit cargo.
Standoff Between Customs and Police
The situation has also triggered a standoff between some Customs officials and the Tema Regional Police Command. Sources claim that as much as US$2 million has allegedly been made available as an inducement to facilitate the release of the goods to the suspected smugglers. Customs officials are pushing for the contents of the containers to be properly examined and valued, with the appropriate duties paid to the state before any consideration is given to their release.
However, sources claim that Prince Awuku has taken a different position, insisting that the goods be released to the persons who allegedly removed the containers from the port without paying the required taxes and duties. The disagreement is said to have intensified after the Tema Police Command allegedly became involved, with the Tema Regional Police Commander reportedly arguing that some of the containers were owned by persons connected to the Presidency and that their removal had been authorised.
Economic and Reputational Implications
The disappearance of the containers has raised concerns not only about potential revenue losses but also about Ghana’s reputation as a secure transit corridor for landlocked Sahelian countries that depend heavily on the Tema Port as a gateway for international trade. Some of the consignments were intended for Burkina Faso and other landlocked countries, and the incident has triggered anger among importers, including Chinese traders.
The development comes amid broader concerns about port congestion and inefficiency at Tema. A nearly 100% surge in container volumes has created significant operational challenges at the Meridian Port Services (MPS) Terminal, raising concerns over delays in cargo clearance and Ghana’s competitiveness as a regional trade hub. The GUTA has warned that congestion at the port is having a severe negative impact on businesses and adding significant costs to the import and clearing process.
The incident is not the first of its kind. In 2019, five persons were arrested over the disappearance of 10 containers of canned tomato paste from the Tema Port, with the suspects including a Customs Preventive Officer and a national security operative. More recently, in 2025, over 1,350 containers belonging to the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) could not be accounted for during investigations, though more than 2,600 were subsequently retrieved.
GRA Urged to Act
The importers have called on the GRA to establish how the containers were removed or transferred and to determine the circumstances under which the goods were handled. They have expressed their readiness to cooperate with the GRA, the police, and other relevant authorities to facilitate investigations.
A detailed list of the 28 containers, including their bill of lading numbers and the status of each container as established by the importers, was attached to the petition. The GRA and Customs have yet to establish the total number of containers allegedly missing, as other clearing agents and importers have also reportedly lodged complaints.
The investigation is expected to focus not only on those who were arrested but also on the masterminds and any officials or other persons who may have facilitated the movement of the containers. Many believe that the scale and apparent coordination of the operation may require intervention at the highest level to ensure that those behind the criminal enterprise are identified and brought to book.
