A group of importers in Ghana has formally requested the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) to launch an investigation into the disappearance of 28 shipping containers from the Tema Port. The containers, which were at various stages of the clearance process, were found to be empty, missing, or moved out of the port without the knowledge of their owners. The importers submitted a petition to the GRA on September 29, 2026, detailing the incident and providing evidence of the missing containers.
The petition, addressed to the Commissioner-General of the GRA, lists each of the 28 containers by its bill of lading number, which is the official shipping document that records the goods loaded, the shipper, and the recipient. This information is intended to help authorities track the affected consignments and identify the point at which they went missing. According to reports, the matter came to light when some of the affected importers traced their missing goods to a warehouse near the GHACEM area in Tema, where they allegedly found their cargo being offloaded from one of the containers.
The importers have also filed a separate official complaint with the Tema Regional Police Command, which has led to the arrest of some persons allegedly connected to the incident. However, the exact number of people arrested and the charges they face are not specified. The incident has raised concerns about security controls at the Tema Port and the systems in place to track containers from arrival to final clearance and exit.
The Tema Port is Ghana's largest and busiest seaport, handling the bulk of the country's imported goods, including raw materials for manufacturers and consumer products. The disappearance of the containers has significant implications for the importers, who risk losing the full value of their shipped goods, as well as additional demurrage and clearing costs already paid, and time-sensitive business commitments to their customers.
The importers have expressed their willingness to assist the GRA and other relevant authorities with the investigation into the alleged removal and transfer of the containers. The GRA has not yet issued a public response to the petition, and there is no timeline for when the investigation will begin or when findings might be made public.
The incident highlights a gap in the system that allowed goods worth an unspecified amount to leave the Tema Port without the knowledge of their owners. The police and tax authority are now both involved in establishing exactly what happened. The importers are seeking answers and action from the authorities to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The case is ongoing, and the GRA's investigation is expected to shed more light on the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of the 28 containers. The incident has significant implications for the import community and the broader economy, and the outcome of the investigation will be closely watched by stakeholders.
Key points
- The importers have petitioned the GRA to investigate the disappearance of 28 containers from the Tema Port, citing a lack of knowledge about the containers' removal.
- The incident has raised concerns about security controls at the Tema Port and the systems in place to track containers.
- The importers have offered to assist the GRA and other authorities with the investigation into the alleged removal and transfer of the containers.
