Parliament House, Accra – The Member of Parliament for Offinso North, Hon. Dr. Fred Kyei Asamoah, has backed the Customs Bill, 2026, while urging government to ensure its implementation promotes ease of doing business and protects personal data.
Contributing to the debate on the report of Parliament’s Finance Committee on the Customs Bill, 2026, Hon. Dr. Kyei Asamoah said efficient revenue collection is essential to Ghana’s development agenda.
According to him, when customs revenue is collected effectively, government will have adequate resources to build roads, schools, hospitals, and create jobs for Ghanaians.
“What is important is that if we are able to collect revenue efficiently and have enough revenue, we will be able to build roads, schools, hospitals and create the jobs that we want our country to have,” he said.
The MP highlighted the proposed Enhanced Customs Information and Advance Ruling System, describing it as a key reform that should be supported by a clear implementation timeline and measurable objectives to improve predictability and enhance the ease of doing business.
He stressed that while broadening the tax base is important, government must also simplify the tax system to make compliance easier for businesses.
“Sometimes the system is so complex to understand that it makes it very difficult for people to even pay their taxes. As we reform and broaden the tax base, we should ensure that the implementation makes it easy for people to do business,” he noted.
Hon. Dr. Kyei Asamoah also raised concerns about the handling of Advance Passenger Information (API), warning that while such systems are important for customs and border management, they also have implications for privacy and security.
He welcomed the provision in the bill that aligns with Ghana’s data protection legislation and international privacy standards, saying this would help safeguard the personal information of travellers entering the country.
According to him, protecting the privacy of visitors is critical to strengthening Ghana’s reputation as a tourism destination and encouraging more international travellers to visit the country.
He concluded by expressing his full support for the Customs Bill, 2026, while encouraging government to ensure the reforms are implemented efficiently and with adequate safeguards for businesses and individuals.
