Some of the leadership from both the GRA and Coca-Cola during the visit
The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and the Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Ghana have jointly pledged to intensify efforts in combating the smuggling of Coca-Cola products into the country. Both institutions have raised alarm over the detrimental impact of illicit trade on local industry and revenue generation.
This renewed commitment was announced during a high-level courtesy visit today by the Managing Director of Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Ghana, Felix Gomis, to the Commissioner of the Customs Division, Brigadier General Glover Ashong Annan, and the Commissioner-General of the GRA, Anthony Kwasi Sarpong.
During the visit, it was revealed that over $700,000 worth of Coca-Cola products—approximately 150,000 crates—are smuggled from Nigeria into Ghana every month. According to officials, this significantly undermines the competitiveness of local production, threatens jobs, and erodes national tax revenue.
Addressing the issue, Brigadier General Annan emphasized the importance of Coca-Cola as a multinational manufacturer and a key development partner in Ghana’s economy. He acknowledged the damaging effects of smuggling on legitimate businesses and assured the beverage company of GRA’s readiness to respond.
“We understand the adverse impacts smuggling has on businesses, undermining fair competition and affecting sales and revenue,” Brigadier General Annan stated. “But I wish to assure you that the Customs Division views this concern with the utmost seriousness.
“We are committed to working with you and other stakeholders to devise effective strategies to tackle smuggling. Through collaboration, intelligence sharing, and coordinated enforcement strategies, we can significantly reduce this menace.”
Gomis expressed appreciation for the GRA’s openness to collaboration, describing the visit as an important step in strengthening partnerships that benefit the national economy.
“It is indeed a pleasure to have been received here by such a distinguished audience. Coca-Cola has been in this country for the past 30 years. We continue to believe in investing heavily in the country to sustain employment,” he noted.
He highlighted recent investments, including the local production of canned beverages that were previously imported. However, he lamented the challenges posed by the smuggling of foreign Coca-Cola products into Ghana and called for immediate action.
“We have no doubt that, with the close collaboration we’ve had with the GRA, this is a great opportunity for us to reinforce our partnership for the mutual benefit of the country,” Gomis said.
Commissioner-General Anthony Kwasi Sarpong also reaffirmed the GRA’s commitment to protecting legitimate businesses, emphasizing that Ghana’s broader economic recovery depends heavily on empowering local industries and generating domestic revenue.
“At the end of the day, it is your business growing and flourishing that will generate the necessary taxes. For every revenue that is lost, we are denying a child somewhere in this country the opportunity to go to school or access good healthcare,” Sarpong remarked.
He praised Coca-Cola for its longstanding contribution to Ghana’s industrial landscape and encouraged continued collaboration.
“See this visit as the beginning of a collaborative effort. We are committed to working with you, as well as the entire private sector, to ensure that the challenges hindering your business operations are minimized so you can operate freely and effectively,” he concluded.