The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) Customs Division has clarified that travellers carrying more than two mobile phones into Ghana will not automatically be required to pay Customs duty.
It said the key consideration would be whether the phones and other items brought into the country are genuinely for personal use or intended for sale, distribution or other commercial purposes.
The clarification stems from public reaction to their educational campaign this week, during which officers said travellers arriving in the country carrying more than two phones would be required to pay duty.
In a statement, the GRA said Customs officers assess each case, taking into account factors including the nature and quantity of the items, whether they are already in use, whether they are new and commercially packaged and the number of similar devices being carried.
Officers may also consider whether the circumstances suggest that the traveller intends to sell or distribute the devices.
The GRA said travellers may legitimately carry more than one phone for personal reasons, including having a separate work device or a replacement handset, without the devices necessarily being treated as commercial imports.
However, where several new or similarly packaged phones are being carried, particularly where they are intended for other people, Customs may make further enquiries to determine whether the items qualify as personal effects or should instead be treated as imports.
The authority has,therefore, advised travellers who are uncertain about the Customs treatment of their items to declare them and seek guidance from a Customs officer at their point of entry.
The GRA said it remains committed to facilitating legitimate travel while applying Ghana’s Customs laws fairly and consistently.
Cash allowed in, out
Meanwhile, the Customs Division of the GRA has reminded passengers travelling outside Ghana that they may carry a maximum of GH¢500 in Ghanaian currency, while visitors arriving in the country may carry up to US$10,000 or its equivalent in other foreign currencies and monetary instruments, without declaration.
It said passengers who exceed the limit risk having the excess amount seized at the point of departure.
The restriction on the cedi is based on the expectation that travellers would use the currency of their destination rather than carry large amounts of Ghanaian currency abroad.
The clarification forms part of broader guidance from Customs on the rules governing the movement of cash and other items across Ghana’s borders, per the Bank of Ghana's amended guidelines on the importation and exportation of foreign currency as part of enhanced anti-money laundering measures.
