President John Mahama has declared smuggling of goods, counterfeiting and the re-bagging of inferior products as acts of economic sabotage.

He warned that his administration will treat such practices as serious economic crimes.

He made the statement at the Presidential Dialogue with the Private Sector in Accra on February 23.

The President announced intensified border enforcement operations aimed at curbing illicit trade activities.

His comments follow the recent goods transit diversion and revenue evasion scandal at Ghana’s borders, reportedly costing over GH¢85 million in lost taxes.

President Mahama indicated that trade related infractions will no longer be treated as minor regulatory breaches.

“Smuggling under declaration, counterfeit goods, and re-bagging of inferior products are not minor infractions. They constitute economic sabotage. To stem this tide and protect our fledgling manufacturing sector, we’ll intensify coordinated border enforcement, treat trade infractions as economic crimes, dismiss and prosecute public officers found culpable, deploy technology-driven custom surveillance solutions, and rigorously enforce product standards,” he said.

President Mahama noted that, “This government is determined to protect Ghanaian enterprises so they can thrive and grow. Industrialization requires secure land tenure and protection of agricultural resources. In this regard, we will accelerate litigation-free industrial land banks, reform land tenure to support commercial contract farming, strengthen action against illegal mining and sand winning, expand irrigation systems, and invest in storage and cold chain infrastructure.”