The Ghana Union of Traders’ Association and a coalition of freight forwarders and business groups have suspended their planned strike following negotiations with government officials over concerns surrounding the Publican AI trade valuation system.
The decision was reached after a high-level meeting held on Thursday, April 16, 2026, involving the Joint Business Forum, representatives from the Ministry of Finance, and the Ghana Revenue Authority. The engagement was convened in response to growing unease within the trading community about the potential impact of the AI-driven system on import valuations and overall trade operations.
At the meeting, the business groups outlined key demands, including a halt to the implementation of the Publican AI system, the reintroduction of a faster appeals process for disputed valuations, greater transparency in how the system operates, and involvement in an independent oversight structure.
While the government rejected calls to suspend the system entirely, it made several concessions aimed at easing tensions. Authorities agreed to restore the previous valuation appeals process, with a commitment to resolve disputes within 24 hours. In addition, the appeals committee will be expanded to allow for broader stakeholder representation.
Both sides also agreed to reconvene on Monday, April 20, to develop a framework for a multi-party oversight body that will monitor the system’s implementation and address ongoing concerns.
However, government officials maintained their position against disclosing full contractual details of the Publican AI system. Instead, they assured stakeholders of opportunities to engage directly with system operators and seek clarification on its functionality.
Despite the progress made, the business coalition indicated that not all concerns have been resolved. The group described the outcome of the meeting as a positive step but stressed that the suspension of the strike is only temporary.
The coalition—comprising GUTA, the Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders, the Transport Association of Ghana, the Food and Beverage Association of Ghana, among others—warned that it could resume industrial action if subsequent engagements fail to produce satisfactory results.
