As a Ghanaian living abroad who regularly travels home, I am deeply concerned by the recent public discussion surrounding Customs rules on passenger luggage, gifts and mobile phones brought into Ghana.

Like many Ghanaians in the diaspora, we travel home with clothes, shoes, phones and other gifts for our parents, children, siblings, relatives and loved ones. These items are not always for business or resale — they are often simply gifts for our families.

We recognise that the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has a responsibility to prevent smuggling and collect legitimate duties on commercial imports. However, ordinary travellers should not automatically be treated as commercial importers simply because they have additional luggage, several personal items or gifts.

Recent discussions about travellers carrying multiple mobile phones have also caused concern and confusion. A traveller may have a personal phone, a work phone, an old phone or an additional phone purchased as a genuine gift. The number of phones alone should not determine whether someone is a commercial importer.

The same applies to luggage. Many airlines allow passengers to purchase additional baggage. Having extra suitcases should not, by itself, mean that the contents are intended for resale.

We are therefore calling on the Government of Ghana and the Ghana Revenue Authority to provide clear, fair and transparent rules for travellers.

We ask that:

1. Clear allowances for personal belongings and reasonable gifts are published and easily accessible before people travel.

2. Travellers are not automatically classified as commercial importers simply because they have additional luggage or multiple mobile phones.

3. Customs clearly distinguishes between personal belongings, genuine gifts and goods imported for commercial resale.

4. Where duty is payable, travellers are given a clear explanation of why, how much is due and how the amount was calculated, with an official receipt.

5. Customs rules are applied consistently and respectfully so passengers are not subject to different interpretations depending on the officer they encounter.

6. The Government and GRA engage with Ghanaian diaspora communities when developing or reviewing policies that significantly affect travellers returning home.

Ghanaians abroad maintain strong connections with Ghana. We send money home, support our families, invest, visit, spend locally and encourage the next generation to maintain their connection with Ghana.

We are not asking for commercial imports to enter Ghana duty-free. We are asking for fairness, clarity and reasonable treatment of genuine personal belongings and family gifts.

Ghana is our home too. Coming home should not be accompanied by uncertainty about what Customs may consider personal or commercial.

Please sign and share this petition calling on the Government of Ghana and the Ghana Revenue Authority to review and clearly communicate these rules.

We love Ghana. We support Ghana. We contribute to Ghana. Let us make coming home fair and welcoming.