The board and management of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has stated categorically that the reaction of Commissioner of the Customs Division of the Authority to an investigative report by the Office of Special Prosecutor (OSP) was “in his personal capacity and do not convey the opinion of the Board and Management of GRA”.
According to the Authority, it accords the OSP the respect and dignity that it carries.
GRA’s reaction comes in the wake of a spirited defence mounted by Colonel (rtd) Kwadwo Damoah, the Commissioner of the Customs Division, that the investigations into the operations of Labianca Group of Companies, owned by Council of State member Eunice Jacqueline Buah Asomah-Hinneh, were “hollow and actuated by malice”.
He was addressing a Customs Management Retreat on Wednesday, August 10.
“I am ready for any prosecution and I know I will come out of it,” he told the gathering.
But the GRA said it has accepted the report and studying the outcomes in detail.
A statement issued by Commissioner-General Reverend Dr Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah on Sunday, August 14 said his outfit “will not hesitate to ensure that per its mandate all processes and procedures that are identified to lead to loss of revenue or have the potential to lead to loss of revenue are blocked”.
The statement explained that prior to the release of the report, steps had been taken by the Authority to streamline and improve on the processes to accurately determine values of imported items and products.
“With the inauguration of the new GRA Board of Directors in August 2021, the Authority took firm steps to deal with practices or procedures that had the potential of reducing or not giving maximum value to transactions at importation.
“One of such measures was to give a directive in December 2021 that with immediate effect no discounts or rebates are given on items or products at importation and to cancel all existing approved discounts.”
It assured that all allegations of impropriety levelled against any staff will be “promptly and decisively” investigated and those found culpable will be dealt with.
