Two cargo trucks that loaded products from the Aflao border in the Volta Region last year and were seen by Beach Newsroom and signed by then-representatives of both parties were the subject of or are now the subject of an inquiry into tax evasion arrangements.
The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) Commissioner-General, Rev. Dr. Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah, was urged to look into the agreements by the deputy national security coordinator Edward Asomani.
The two cargo trucks were reportedly apprehended at Dzorwulu, close to the Fiesta Royale Hotel in Accra, on Thursday, October 21, 2021, by a Customs Intelligence team led by John Agbawu with the help of agents from the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB).
At the border crossing in Aflao, it was thought that the cargo trucks had misdeclared their cargo.
Following their detention, the trucks with the license plates GW 6957-13 and GT 8502-16 were taken for a second inspection to the Customs Laboratory Division at the Kotoka International Airport Roundabout.
The letter stated that “a significant portion of the items in the trucks were undeclared and, as a result, no tariffs were paid on same” during the re-examination.
However, it was claimed that the traders behaved impolitely with the police during the interrogation, with one apparently making a call to Colonel (rtd) Kwadwo Damoah, the GRA Commissioner of Customs.
As soon as possible, Mr. Agbawu received a call from Kojo Bonsu, who is purported to be a staff member of the Commissioner.
Agbawu also got a call from Adu Kyei, the CD-deputy GRA’s commissioner of operations, who offered similar instructions.
The dealer who called Col. Damoah also recorded the arresting officers on camera, which was sent to him.
The GRA Commissioner-General was encouraged in the letter by Mr. Asomani, who now serves as the National Security Coordinator, to look into the situation and inform the Ministry of his findings.
Additionally, your organization is asked to take the appropriate actions to stop senior officials from undermining the efforts of customs agents at the many custom checkpoints located throughout the nation.
