Josiah
Travellers arriving in Ghana with several mobile phones could be required to pay customs duties and taxes if the devices are deemed to be commercial imports, the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) Customs Division has cautioned.
Commissioner of Customs Aaron Kanor explained that Customs officers consider both the quantity and nature of goods carried by passengers when determining whether they qualify as personal effects or are being brought into the country for commercial purposes.
He made the remarks on Wednesday, September 2, during a tour of the Accra International Airport, where he advised travellers to be cautious about accepting multiple mobile phones from friends and relatives to transport into Ghana.
According to Mr Kanor, travellers may generally bring phones for their personal use, including an additional device for a spouse or family member. However, carrying several more phones could raise concerns about whether the devices are intended for sale.
He said it was common for travellers to accept phones from several people before leaving a foreign country, resulting in one passenger arriving in Ghana with a large number of devices.
“In Ghana, because of our culture, when one is travelling, Ama gives you one phone, Kofi gives you another, and all the day borns they all give you phones. When you carry all those seven phones, and you arrive, it will amount to what? Commercial,” he said.
Mr Kanor stressed that there is no fixed number of phones that automatically determines whether an import is commercial. Instead, Customs assesses the circumstances, including the quantity and nature of the goods, before making a determination.
He noted that the issue is particularly important when travellers arrive with several new and high-value smartphones, as the quantity may suggest that the devices are intended for commercial purposes rather than personal use.
Travellers carrying multiple phones should therefore be prepared for Customs officers to examine the devices and determine whether duties and taxes are applicable.
The Commissioner also pointed to high-value brands such as Apple’s iPhone and Samsung as products that can generate significant revenue for the state when properly assessed.
“If you look at iPhone, Samsung, they are very expensive. That is where we can get our revenue,” he added.
Source:Omanghana
