The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has recouped GHS1.047 million from a business owned by Eunice Jacqueline Buah Asomah-Hinneh, a member of the Council of State.
The money, according to the OSP, is a shortfall in import duties reimbursed to the state.
This information was revealed by the OSP in an investigative report titled, “Report of Investigation into Alleged Commission of Corruption and Corruption Related Offences involving Labianca Group of Companies and the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority”.
In a 12-page report signed by the Special Prosecutor, Mr. Kissi Agyebeng, the OSP charged Asomah-Hinneh with influence-peddling for allegedly using her positions as a council of state member and a member of the board of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) to obtain a favourable ruling from the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), which reduced Labianca Limited’s tax obligations.
Further investigations into the Customs Division of the (GRA) have been sought by the OSP, who has also asked for a copy of integrity strategies to fight corruption.
The OSP cited Joseph Adu Kyei, a Deputy Commissioner of Customs in charge of Operations, for issuing what it deemed to be an illegal customs advance ruling.
This, according to the report, decreased the benchmark values of the products Labianca Limited imported, resulting in decreased tax liabilities of the company to the state.
