The serious objection raised by the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority after the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) had accused the revenue collecting agency of aiding Labianca Company Limited to evade payment of tax to the state, appears to have opened a can of worms.
Two days after the OSP had issued a statement of its intention to investigate how seized cars were auctioned by Customs, a letter purportedly written by the then Deputy National Security Coordinator, Edward Asomani, to the leadership of GRA, complaining about the offence has emerged.
The Chronicle cannot independently authenticate the leaked letter, which has gone viral on social media.
The office of the National Security Coordinator has neither confirmed nor denied the existence of the letter, which content seems to indict Customs officials of aiding another tax evasion in October, 2021.
The following is the full content of the alleged letter written to the GRA by Mr Edward Asomani;
“Reports indicate that a Customs Intelligence team of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (CD-GRA), led by John Agbawu, with assistance from operatives of the Special Monitoring Team (SMT) of the National Intelligence Bureau, on 08/10/2021, intercepted and arrested two (2) cargo trucks at Dzorwulu traffic light, near the Fiesta Royale Hotel in Accra, on suspicion of under-declaration and mis-description of goods.
- The trucks with registration numbers GW 6957-13 and GT 8502-16, from Aflao, upon arrest,were escorted to the Customs Laboratory Division at Airport Round about for re-examination.
- It was revealed, after the re-examination, that a substantial number of goods in the trucks were undeclared and thus, no duties were paid on same.
*Kindly find attached the list of declared and undeclared goods in the trucks.
- It needs stating that, during the interception, the traders were discourteous towards the arresting officers, with one of them allegedly placing a call to Col. Damoah, Commissioner of CD-GRA.
Subsequently, Agbawu received a call from one Kojo Bonsu, Staff Officer of the Commissioner, instructing him to release the trucks unconditionally.
- Further, Agbawu received another call from Adu Kyei, Deputy Commissioner of Operations, CD-GRA, who also gave similar instructions.
Additionally, the trader who placed the call to Col. Damoah recorded the arresting officers on video, to be forwarded to him.
- Given the implications of this development, particularly those related to tax evasion, on the domestic revenue mobilisation efforts of GRA, your outfit is urged to investigate the matter and update this Ministry accordingly.
- Your outfit is further urged to take necessary steps to prevent senior officials from undermining the work of customs officers at the various custom checkpoints across the country.
Regards.
