GRA Calls For Full Report �On Default Payment Of Duty By Turkish Company

The Commissioner of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has called for a full report from the Tema Collection Point on the allegation that a Turkish company, Proteus Limited, had defaulted in the payment of duty on items it imported into the country. Sources at the GRA hinted The Chronicle that the Commissioner�s reaction was because the state revenue collection agency had vowed, this year, to embark on a full scale operation to collect every pesewa owed it. The customs boss� action was as a result of a story The Chronicle carried last Wednesday that the revenue collectors are on the heels of a Turkish company, Proteus Limited, which allegedly cleared some construction equipment on permit from the Tema Port, but is refusing to redeem the obligation involved. Proteus Limited, importers and the agent, Knight Lamp, which cleared the items, are making counterclaims. The Operations Manager of Proteus Limited, Franklin Cudjoe, is alleging that the company paid a total of GH�140,000 to one Julius Nyamson, who cleared the items on permit, beside payments that included shipping line charges, rent, duty and miscellaneous expenses. He is, however, accused of not submitting a breakdown of his expenditure, hence Proteus Limited wants the police to apprehend him. The agent, Nyamson, on his part, debunked the claim and explained that he was given GH�135,000 to clear 5 containers which landed at the Tema Port months earlier, and as such attracted demurrage charges. The Chronicle�s investigations revealed that on the 28th of August 2014, the Managing Director of Knight Lamp Enterprise Limited, Wisdom Ebo Panford, made an application addressed to the Assistant Commissioner, Ghana Revenue Authority, Customs Division, Tema, titled APPLICATION FOR PERMIT ON CONTAINER NUMBER CTXUB 3299480, Bill of Laden Number ESBCN035494 per Hanjin Versailles. It states: �I would like to apply for permit to take delivery of the above-mentioned container. An amount will be deposited before clearing the goods, so as to comply with all rules. The reason being that we presented Import Declaration Form (IDF) number CD201408MOTTIIDF10000228540 to the Destination Inspection Company (DIC) (Webb Fontaine), and it was queried because of the classification of the goods. And we can only clear the goods on permit to identify the description and quantity.� Similar letters were written to the same address and date in connection with container numbers GESU 7306430, Bill of Laden number CGB0109444 per the same vessel, with IDF number CD201408MOTIIDF10000228540 and container number FBXU8955742, bill of laden number ESBCN035442. On the 29th of August, 2014, container UACU5633971, bill of laden number ESBCN035627, per the same vessel, was also sent to the Assistant Commissioner, Tema Collection Point. Further investigations by The Chronicle disclosed that on the 30th of October, 2014, Mawuse Esi Dadjo, Assistant Commissioner, General Duties, signed letters for the Sector Commander to the Operations Manager, Webb Fontaine Ghana Limited, Accra, in respect of container number GESU7306430, and states that this has reference to a letter from Knight Lamp Enterprise Limited, dated 28th August, 2014, requesting for a permit on the above container. According to the Customs letter, a physical examination of the container revealed the following: 2 pcs (units) used old lower towet 1 pc (unit) used old crane-brand jaso model j4110 8 pcs (units) used old buckles sujections (for jaso 14110) 3 pcs (units) used old counter weight (for jaso 14110) 2 pcs (units) used old long crab wire rope (for jaso) 1 pc (unit) used old head & slewing mechanism (for jaso) & other items as entered/invoice No. 762 of 22/05/2014 & packing/list. Consignment certified by G SA (Richmond Sackey). On container number CTXU329980, after a physical examination, the following quantity and goods were obtained: 201 pcs (units) metal beam (400�10)cm 1092 pcs (units) metal strut (brace) (1000�400) cm 490 pcs (units) system accessories (for lift) & other used construction items as entered/invoice/packing list Also, container number UACU5633971, after a physical examination, revealed the following: 105 pcs (units) metal scaffolding (200�75) cm (old) 27 pcs (units) metal scaffolding (300�50) cm (old) 25 pcs (units) metal scaffolding (300�200) cm (old) 1 pc used generator-ATLAS COPCO- (model No. OAS400) 1pc used concrete mixer (diesel 2.0 HP) 1 Roll* 10 MTR Water Hose (Rubber) 20 pcs (units) metal formworks (for lift) (300�50) cm 57 pcs (units) formworks (for lift) (300�100) cm 32 pcs (units) used metal formworks (For Pilots) (300�75) CM & other items as entered/invoice & Packing List. And container number FBXU8955742, upon a physical examination, had 191 pcs (units) old/used metal beam (W-10cm, L-400 cm) 1010 pcs (units) old/used metal strut (telescopic brace) W-W-10 cm, L-410 cm) 565 pcs (units) systems (metal scaffold) accessories as entered/invoice and Packing List attached. The Chronicle, in its investigations, spoke to a number of persons who are security chiefs, and all considered the issue as very sensitive and could lead to lapses. According to them, once a case falls in a particular jurisdiction, that command should be the first to handle the case, unless there is reasonable cause to suspect that the particular case would not be investigated properly due to someone�s vested interest. The capos suggested that the national headquarters of the Ghana Police Service must step in immediately to save a situation that could serve as a bad precedent.