Edward Osei addressing the media
THE CUSTOM Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has intercepted a forty-footer container which has been under declared at the Tema Port.
United Car Service Limited, the importer based in Tema was said to have imported several goods including 1,000 pieces of mobile phones, Snack Sprayer machines, phone batteries, chargers, electrical connectors and other assorted goods from Ningbo in China but declared only four of them to allegedly evade tax.
Intelligence led to the discovery of Senama Logistics, the clearing company which under-declared the items to outwit the system.
The items have been detained by the Customs Division and deposited at the State warehouse pending payment of the right duty and penalty.
According to Customs, the undeclared goods could amount to GH?60, 000 revenue loss to the state.
This interception mark the third of its kind to have occurred at the Tema Port after the implementation of the paperless system.
Initial two interceptions were said to have occurred within the first week of the introduction of the paperless system.
Although one of the owners appeared and paid for the right duty including penalty, the other agent is yet to surface.
Addressing a news conference in Tema on Monday, Edward Osei, Chief Revenue Officer in charge of Preventive, Tema noted that the appropriate sanction will be applied on the agent and the importer to make the right payment before the goods would be released.
“The paperless system has come to stay and you have to comply. What I mean by being compliant is you have to do your things creditably, you don’t alter any invoices, you have to observe all the statutory declaration that goes with clearance then you’re good to do business with us. But if you hide behind the paperless system that has been rolled out recently andbring in things like this to outfit Customs, we’ll deal with you appropriately,” he stated.
He warned the trading public that Customs is determine to deal with any importer and freight forwarder who might attempt to cheat the system and that might include imprisonment.
The Preventive Officer pointed out that his outfit is going to be very vigilant at the ports and relay intelligence to eradicate criminal acts from the system.
From Vincent Kubi, Tema