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The Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, has reiterated Nigeria’s resolve to strengthen cooperation with the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) to curb illicit trade and promote seamless cross-border commerce within the framework of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Adeniyi stated this on Monday, November 3, 2025, during a high-level meeting with the Commissioner-General of Ghana Customs, Brigadier-General Glover Annan, at the GRA headquarters in Accra. Both agencies emphasized the need for stronger intelligence sharing, harmonized border procedures, and joint enforcement operations as vital measures to dismantle smuggling networks and enhance legitimate trade between the two countries.
Brig.-Gen. Annan welcomed the Nigerian delegation and described the meeting as “a reaffirmation of the deep historical and economic ties between Ghana and Nigeria.”
“Our nations are united not just by history and culture but also by a shared vision to strengthen customs operations,” he said. “The Nigeria Customs Service continues to inspire reforms and innovation in Ghana, and we see great opportunities in renewing our collaboration.”
He lauded the NCS for spearheading the Customs-Partnership for African Cooperation in Trade (C-PACT) initiative, developed with the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) and backed by the World Customs Organisation (WCO). Annan noted that the forthcoming C-PACT Conference, scheduled for November 17–19, 2025, in Abuja, would serve as a key platform for African Customs administrations to promote transparency, lawful trade, and sustainable development.
In his remarks, Adeniyi highlighted the growing threat of transnational crime networks that exploit regulatory and operational gaps between African Customs administrations.
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“We must bridge the gaps between our administrations because these are the same weaknesses that transnational criminals exploit,” Adeniyi said. “The more we work together, exchanging intelligence and building capacity, the stronger we will be against these syndicates.”
He recalled that Nigeria and Ghana had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Customs cooperation in 2001 and proposed an immediate review to reflect new trade realities under AfCFTA.
“It would be my wish that we take a second look at that agreement and breathe new life into it,” he said. “We can identify new areas of collaboration that align with today’s challenges and the future we envision for African trade.”
Adeniyi added that his visit also aimed to secure Ghana’s support for the upcoming C-PACT Conference and deepen collective efforts to boost intra-African trade.
“Our mission is to strengthen the role of Customs as a major promoter of AfCFTA,” he noted. “We want to expand the volume of trade within Africa and ensure that commerce truly drives growth and prosperity for our people.”
The Nigeria–Ghana Customs engagement marks a renewed push toward a coordinated regional framework anchored on intelligence-led enforcement, border modernization, and economic integration across West Africa.
