Kissi Adjebeng
The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has said it will soon announce its conclusions and further action in three out of 45 cases of suspected corruption and corruption-related offences being investigated.
The four cases involve the LaBianca Company Limited, Adjenim Boateng Adjei and Alexander Kwabena Sarfo-Kantanka.
The OSP, in a statement dubbed: “Update of Cases”, indicated that the case of LaBianca Company Limited is in respect of alleged corruption and corruption-related offences in the context of evasion and valuation of duties on frozen and processed food products imported into Ghana between 2017 and 2021.
It said the case involves LaBianca Company Limited and some high-ranking officials of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).
On November 16, 2021, one Frank Asare lodged a complaint with the OSP to investigate the company and its subsidiaries operating at the Tema Port.
According to the complainant, his investigations allegedly uncovered that products imported by LaBianca Company and its subsidiaries were not subjected to the approved duties and taxes by officials of GRA, contrary to the law.
The statement noted that Adjenim Boateng Adjei case is in respect of alleged corruption and corruption-related offences in the context of public procurement and abuse of office involving the former Chief Executive of the Public Procurement Authority.
Mr. Adjenim Boateng Adjei was sacked by President Akufo-Addo for procurement malpractices following the findings of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) on investigations conducted into allegations made against him by investigative journalist, Manasseh Azuri Awuni, in a documentary titled “Contracts for Sale.”
For Alexander Kwabena Sarfo-Kantanka’s case, the OSP said this is “in respect of corruption and corruption-related offences in the context of a public election, particularly corruption and intimidation in respect of a public election regarding the confirmation or otherwise of the nominee for the office of Chief Executive of the Juaben Municipal Assembly in the Ashanti Region.”
BY Ernest Kofi Adu