Nigeria, Ghana Customs Strengthen Ties to Combat Illicit Trade, Boost Regional Economy
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) have agreed to deepen bilateral cooperation to curb illicit trade, promote seamless trade facilitation, and advance regional economic integration under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
This commitment was reaffirmed during a high-level meeting between the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, and the Commissioner-General of the Customs Division of the GRA, Brigadier General Glover Annan, held on Monday, November 3, 2025, at the Authority’s headquarters in Accra, Ghana.
Both agencies emphasised the importance of intelligence sharing, harmonised border procedures, and joint enforcement strategies to combat transnational crimes while promoting legitimate trade between the two West African nations.
Brig.-Gen. Annan, who welcomed the Nigerian delegation, expressed Ghana’s readiness to strengthen operational ties with the NCS, describing the relationship between the two countries as rooted in shared history and mutual economic aspirations.
“Our nations are united not just by history and culture but also by a shared vision to strengthen customs operations. The Nigeria Customs Service continues to inspire our reforms and innovation in Ghana, and we see great opportunities in renewing our collaboration,” Annan said.
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He also commended the NCS for championing the Customs-Partnership for African Cooperation in Trade (C-PACT) initiative, jointly developed with the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) and supported by the World Customs Organisation (WCO). He noted that the forthcoming C-PACT Conference, scheduled for November 17–19, 2025, in Abuja, would provide a continental platform for Customs administrations to develop new frameworks promoting transparency, lawful trade, and sustainable growth.
In his remarks, CGC Adeniyi said criminal networks were exploiting operational loopholes among Customs administrations across Africa to facilitate the smuggling of dangerous goods and contraband.
He stressed the need for closer coordination and collaboration to safeguard regional economies.
“We must bridge the gaps between our administrations because these are the same weaknesses that transnational criminals exploit. The more we work together, exchanging intelligence and building capacity, the stronger we will be against these syndicates,” Adeniyi stated.
He recalled that Nigeria and Ghana signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Customs Cooperation in 2001 and proposed a review of the agreement to reflect current realities and opportunities under the AfCFTA.
“It would be my wish that we take a second look at that agreement and breathe new life into it. We can identify new areas of collaboration that align with today’s challenges and the future we envision for African trade,” he added.
Adeniyi explained that his visit also sought to secure Ghana’s support for the upcoming C-PACT Conference and to explore joint strategies to enhance intra-African trade and economic prosperity.
“Our mission is to strengthen the role of Customs as a major promoter of AfCFTA. We want to increase the volume of trade within Africa and ensure that trade becomes a true driver of growth and prosperity for our people,” he said.
The meeting concluded with both agencies agreeing to work towards a renewed bilateral framework that focuses on intelligence-led enforcement, coordinated border management, and trade modernisation across the West African sub-region.
By PRNigeria
