American comedian Michael Blackson, who was born in Ghana, recently went on a lengthy Twitter tirade about Ghana’s clearing customs payments.
The comedian said that the cost of importing goods into the nation was excessively high and he urged the Ghana Shippers Authority to take action. Blackson shared a personal story and talked about the outrageous sums of money he had to pay to get some items he had imported from the US to Ghana.
Michael Blackson tweets:
If you are planning on shipping anything to Ghana, be prepared to pay a duty fee as high as the thing you shipped and if you don’t pick them up in a timely fashion they will auction your belongings. Why @GhanaRevenue ?
— Michael Blackson (@MichaelBlackson) December 7, 2022
The comedian praised God for giving him a platform and pledged to fight for third-world inhabitants and free them from the constraints of bad government regulations.
I shipped some old furniture by ship duty was $1500 that didn’t bother me, later I shipped my 2014 S class duty was $16k that didn’t bother me but 3 boxes of clothes sent thru DHL that cost me $10k and you want me to pay $10k to get it out? Now you going too far.
— Michael Blackson (@MichaelBlackson) December 7, 2022
Blackson had many Ghanaians in agreement with his rant and promised to stand up for people in third-world nations.
I’m sure people in other 3rd world countries are going thru this smh. Don’t worry we will fix this, it’s not fair to the people of Ghana. @GhanaRevenue
— Michael Blackson (@MichaelBlackson) December 7, 2022
The comedian said that the common Ghanaian was unfairly burdened by the expense of bringing items into the nation.
I have cousins in Ghana with no jobs and no income. Because the country lacked jobs, they wanted to open a store if I could help. I purchased about $10k of items and when it arrived thru DHL, customs said they will need to pay $10k to retrieve. IT MAKES NO SENSE @GhanaRevenue
— Michael Blackson (@MichaelBlackson) December 7, 2022
He talks about his experiences with Ghana Revenue Authority.
I shipped some old furniture by ship duty was $1500 that didn’t bother me, later I shipped my 2014 S class duty was $16k that didn’t bother me but 3 boxes of clothes sent thru DHL that cost me $10k and you want me to pay $10k to get it out? Now you going too far.
— Michael Blackson (@MichaelBlackson) December 7, 2022
He was baffled as to why the Ghana Revenue Authority demanded $10,000 for a product he had paid $10,000 for.
It’s been a whole day and no one has got back to me about why I shipped something thru DHL to Ghana that cost me $10k then custom got a hold of it and told my people they need $10k to retrieve it. @GhanaRevenue
— Michael Blackson (@MichaelBlackson) December 8, 2022
Blackson argues that the method is illogical, particularly when charges can reach 100%.
In America taxes on goods could be as high as 10% and we complain, well in Ghana and most places in Africa duty fees can be whatever they think it’s worth and it can be as high as 100% smh. @GhanaRevenue can we do something about this.
— Michael Blackson (@MichaelBlackson) December 8, 2022
Many Ghanaians expressed their complaints after being able to identify with Michael Blackson’s situation. The question is, who is charging these ridiculous charges at the Ghana Revenue? And who should be taken responsible for this daylight “pen robbery”? Let’s know in the comment
