Anti-Fraud Professional and Lecturer, Ransford Nana Addo Jnr, has called for stricter surveillance and checks at Ghana’s ports and customs to curb the influx of stolen vehicles into the country.
Speaking on JoyNews’ AM Show, Nana Addo Jnr raised concerns about weak monitoring systems, highlighting the recent case involving Dancehall artist Shatta Wale’s vehicle, which was seized by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) after being flagged as stolen.
According to Nana Addo Jnr, Ghana’s ports remain the weakest link in the fight against the stolen car trade.
“Irrespective of who is buying the vehicle, whether an importer or dealer, if we are working with our international partners like the FBI and Interpol, and a vehicle is branded as stolen, we should ask the authorities questions – how did these vehicles get registered in this country?” he queried.
He explained that many Ghanaians wrongly assume that once customs clears a vehicle, it is genuine and free of irregularities.
Nana Addo Jnr emphasized that customs clearance is not enough proof of authenticity and urged closer collaboration between Ghana’s security agencies and international bodies such as the FBI and Interpol.
“I think the point where we need to tighten will be at the ports and our customs. Whether it is an importer or an individual, the collaboration between our security agencies has to be on point,” he said.
He cited the case involving Shatta Wale’s 2019 vehicle, which was flagged by foreign agencies as stolen, questioning why Ghanaian systems failed to detect the issue earlier.
“If this vehicle was stolen about a year ago, it should have been flagged on the portals of the CID, DVLA, and Customs. We should not have waited for the FBI to come into town,” he stressed.
The anti-fraud expert further cautioned the public and regulators to be vigilant about inconsistencies in vehicle registrations.
“There are very luxurious vehicles in town being driven by some people, and you notice that the registration doesn’t match the year of manufacturing. That should be a red flag,” he warned.
Nana Addo Jnr reiterated that tightening surveillance at ports is the most effective way to prevent stolen vehicles from entering Ghana’s system, restore public confidence, and ensure that customs, licensing, and law enforcement agencies uphold their responsibilities.