The Ghana Union of Traders’ Association (GUTA), in collaboration with several freight forwarding and business advocacy groups, has officially suspended its planned industrial action.
The decision follows concessions secured from the government during high-level deliberations aimed at addressing concerns over the new Publican AI trade valuation system.
The resolution was reached on Thursday, April 16, 2026, during a critical meeting between the Joint Business Forum and top officials from the Ministry of Finance and the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).
The discussions were prompted by widespread industry anxiety regarding the Publican AI system’s impact on trade operations and customs valuations.
During the session, the business coalition presented four primary demands: the immediate suspension of the Publican AI system, the restoration of the previous valuation appeals process with a 24-hour resolution guarantee, full transparency regarding the system’s technical operations, and clear participation in a proposed multi-party oversight committee.
In a major breakthrough, the government agreed to reinstate the earlier appeals framework, ensuring that all valuation disputes are resolved within a 24-hour window. To further bolster transparency, officials committed to expanding the appeals committee from six to twelve members. Furthermore, both parties agreed to meet on Monday, April 20, to jointly develop the terms of reference for a new multi-party committee.
However, the government declined the request to suspend the Publican AI system, insisting that operational concerns be channeled through the new committee. Demands for full disclosure of the system’s contractual details were also resisted, though the government promised that trade representatives could interrogate the system and engage directly with its operators.
While the Joint Business Forum acknowledged that some grievances remain, it described the engagement as a step forward.
The coalition, which includes GUTA, GIFF, TAGG, FABAG, and several others emphasized that the suspension is temporary and subject to the outcome of future negotiations, warning that further action remains an option if dialogue fails.
