Following the recent crackdown on stolen vehicles, with over 100 US cars traced to Ghana, the Executive Secretary of the Vehicle and Assets Dealers Union of Ghana (VADUG), Frank Atanley Kofigah, has insisted that car dealers are not responsible for the situation. He argued that the burden of responsibility rests squarely with Ghana’s port authorities.
Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on Tuesday, August 26, Mr. Kofigah said the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) serves as the first line of defence in preventing stolen cars from entering the country.
“What we are saying is that the Customs Divisions of the Ghana Revenue Authority are the gatekeepers to ensure that these (stolen) vehicles do not even get into this country in the first place because the theft did not happen on our grounds; it happened in a different jurisdiction,” Mr. Kofigah explained.
According to him, once a vehicle passes through checks by Customs, Preventive Services, and National Security at the ports, dealers have no reason to doubt the car’s authenticity.
Mr. Kofigah highlighted how dealers rely heavily on clearance documents issued by Customs.
“If someone offers me a Lamborghini for $150,000, two things come to mind: it’s either repairable or a relatively good deal. But my assurance is that Customs has already done the vigorous checks. All I need is the Customs document that proves it is safe,” he added.
The VADUG boss also revealed that many car dealers were unaware of platforms such as INTERPOL’s vehicle status database or EOCO’s verification desk until recently.
“Until a week or two ago, we had no idea that INTERPOL has a platform to check a vehicle’s status, or that EOCO has a front desk where you can submit your VIN for verification. All we usually do is a VIN check or run a car fact report,” he admitted.
This revelation, he said, underscores why Customs remains the only institution with the mandate and technical capacity to block stolen vehicles before they hit the Ghanaian market.
The issue of stolen cars intensified after popular musician Shatta Wale was detained in connection with a Lamborghini Urus, which was later confiscated by authorities following a request from US officials. The incident brought national attention to the loopholes in Ghana’s import system and sparked public debate over who should be held accountable.
Mr. Kofigah concluded by stressing that until Customs strengthens its verification systems, car dealers should not be scapegoated for vehicles that have already been cleared at the ports.
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