… Approves Low Invoice Values for Electroland Ghana Limited
The Commissioner-General of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) Rev. Dr Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah, has fallen on his dagger in a hasty attempt to nail his colleague.
Like the proverbial man pointing at his neighbours forgetting the other fingers are pointing at him, he has fallen into his trap this time around.
The ‘Chief Tax Man’ is allegedly taking decisions that are inimical to the state having himself sanctioned some of his officers for dereliction of duty.
Strangely the GRA chief is equally guilty of the same offence which formed the basis for the suspension of one of his deputies at the Customs Division in charge of Operations.
Commissioner Adu-Kyei is accused of approving transactional values that are described as “low invoice values” covering over 280 electronic products belonging to Sun Electronics.
“In a letter dated December 29th 2021, as DC, Operations (GRA-CD) you approved markdowns or discounts that were analogous to low invoice values that covered over 280 electronic products for Sun Electronics. You approved low invoice values related to rice for importers including WILMAR AFRICA LTD, IMEXCO and FNJ INVESTMENTS, to be effective between December 24th, 2021 and February 22nd, 2022, as well as low invoice value for spaghetti for WESTCO INVESTMENT LTD”, the memo said.
His suspension letter dated Friday, March 25, 2022, also announced that the embattled Deputy Commissioner (DC), has been referred to a Disciplinary Committee for further action.
The action of the Deputy Commissioner, according to the memo sighted by DAYBREAK, is against a GRA Board directive issued on December 16th 2021 that had, with immediate effect,
1) Forbidden approval of any discounts or markdowns by GRA-Customs CD, euphemistically described as low invoice values, and
2) Demanded cancellation of all existing approval of low invoice values, discounts or markdowns.
The memo added “Additionally, the above actions by you are not only inimical to GRA’s pursuit of its 2022 revenue target of GH¢80. 3Bn but they also undermine the Authority’s spirit and efforts as it seeks to fulfil its mandate”.
Interestingly, while Rev. Owusu-Amoah appears to be cracking the whip on even his senior officers, he has been caught in the same web of approving transaction that is low in invoice values just like his CD deputy.
The man of God cum chief revenue collector approved the transaction value to Electroland Ghana Limited, a day after he wrote to Joseph Adu-Kyei.
The date for Rev. Owusu-Amoah’s transaction also raised eyebrows as it fell on weekend.
March 26, 2022, which was a Saturday is when the Commissioner General decided to grant the reduction.
But it appears nothing will be done to him simply because he is the boss and has the support of ‘he’ who must be obeyed and the one that calls the shots.
An August 14, 2022 statement issued by the same Owusu-Amoah in a dramatic u-turn said the Authority “had taken steps to streamline and improve on the processes of accurately determining values of imported items and products.”
“With the inauguration of the new GRA Board of directors in August 2021, the authority took firm steps to deal with practices and procedures that had the potential of reducing or not giving maximum value to transactions and importation” Rev. Owusu-Amoah, wrote.
The GRA Boss surprisingly added: “GRA is ensuring that all unreasonable exercise of discretionary power which will result in the loss of revenue will be prevented.”
