The Chairman of the Food and Beverages Association of Ghana (FABAG), Rev. John Awuni, says the association still strongly opposes the Publican AI system, insisting their position has not changed despite recent government engagement with business groups.
His comments come after the Ghana Union of Traders’ Association (GUTA), freight forwarders and other business bodies including the association agreed to suspend planned industrial action following talks with the Ministry of Finance and the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) on Thursday, April 16, 2026.
The meeting, which involved the Joint Business Forum, focused on concerns over the Publican AI system and its role in customs valuation and trade processes.
Speaking on Citi Eyewitness News on Friday April 17, Rev. Awuni maintained that the system was not good for businesses and that the association remains unconvinced about how the system operates and continues to question its reliability.
“We still stand by that position 100%. We don’t know how that AI operate. By the name AI we currently believe that AI is living by its name, churning out artificial figures for businesses to pay,” he said.
He explained that during the meeting, business groups pushed for the suspension of the system, improved transparency, and reforms to the appeals process to make it more understandable and auditable.
“So we moved into the meeting yesterday with key objectives. We wanted them to suspend that AI and then also improve upon the compliance and appeal system for us to be able to understand it and evaluate it and for that matter audit and set up a committee for us to join and then ensure the technical efficiency,” he added.
Government, however, agreed only to adjust the appeals process and expand the proposed committee, while maintaining that the Publican AI system will not be suspended. Officials said concerns should instead be addressed through the joint committee.
Although the industrial action has been suspended for now, the business coalition says it remains dissatisfied with parts of the outcome and insists its demand for suspension of the system still stands.
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