The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) is poised to begin a thorough examination into all decisions and benchmark values used by the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) dating back to 2017.
In a statement released the Commissioner of Customs, Col. Kwadwo Damoah (Rtd), has been ordered by Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng to provide any papers relevant to transactions that took place between July 2017 and December 2021.
“On 11 August 2022, I directed the Commissioner of the Customs Division to submit to the Office of the Special Prosecutor, on or before 30 September 2022 the particulars of all applications for customs advance ruling, applications for a markdown of benchmark values, applications for private rulings and class rulings about the application of customs law and the decision on each of the applications within the indicated period,” the statement added.
This comes after developments that followed the OSP’s findings of alleged corrupt activities involving Labianca Group of Companies and the Customs Division.
According to the aforementioned report, Eunice Jacqueline Buah Asomah-Hinneh, the company’s owner, had abused her power as a board member of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) at the time to obtain favours.
The Special Prosecutor obtained GHS1.074 million from the business whose owner is also a Council of State member.
Joseph Adu Kyei, a Deputy Commissioner of Customs in charge of Operations, was also cited by the OSP for issuing what it deemed to be an illegal customs advance ruling.
However, the Commissioner of Customs objected to this stance and said that Mr. Agyebeng was trying to damage his reputation.
The OSP has also requested an integrity Plan designed by the Authority, with the aim of preventing the corruption of the exercise of discretion by officials of the Customs Division.
“…especially in respect of the rendering of rulings, to assure the effective operation of the Customs Act, 2015 (Act 891) and the Revenue Administration Act, 2016 (Act 915), on or before 31 December 2022,” the statement added.
