Government Bans Land Transit of Rice, Mackerel and Tomato Puree to Protect Local Market
The government has expanded its restrictions on the land transit of selected food items, adding rice, mackerel and tomato puree to the banned list as part of efforts to prevent suspected transit diversion and safeguard the domestic market.
The latest directive follows last month’s ban on the land transit of cooking oil. Pasta is also expected to be included soon.
President John Dramani Mahama announced the new measures during the inauguration of Ghana’s first pasta processing plant at Kpong, operated by Olam Agri Ghana.
“Recently, following the ban on cooking oil, we’ve added rice to the list, we’ve added tomato puree (tin tomatoes), and we’ve added mackerel to the list. I’m going to tell the Minister of Finance to add Pasta to the list,” he stated.
Under the policy, consignments of these food items entering Ghana for onward transit to landlocked countries such as Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger will no longer be permitted to move through land border collection points.
The decision was prompted by authorities intercepting 18 articulated trucks recently, which had been declared for transit to Niger but were suspected of being part of a larger scheme to divert goods into the local market.
The government says the restrictions aim to curb smuggling, protect local producers and processors, and ensure that imported food items intended for transit do not flood the domestic market and undermine Ghanaian businesses.
President Mahama emphasised the administration’s commitment to supporting local agro-industrial development and food processing as key pillars of economic growth.
The Ministry of Trade and Industry, working with the Ghana Revenue Authority and other agencies, will enforce the new measures at all land border points. Importers and transit operators have been advised to comply fully or face penalties.
The policy has been welcomed by local manufacturers and farmers’ groups who argue that unchecked transit diversion has long hurt domestic production and market prices. Some traders, however, have raised concerns about potential delays and added costs for legitimate transit cargo.
The government has assured that legitimate transit trade will continue through approved channels, including sea ports, while land routes face stricter controls to close loopholes exploited by diversion schemes.
