The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) says the investigative report issued by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) on the purported tax evasion offences by Labianca Group of Companies is being studied in detail.
It said it accords the Office the respect and dignity it carries and therefore will not take kindly the report, given the Authority continually “looks for every opportunity to improve on revenue as well as block any leakage”.
“To this end, GRA is studying the outcomes of the report in detail and will not hesitate to ensure that per its mandate all processes and procedures that are identified to lead to loss of revenue or have the potential to lead to loss of revenue are blocked,” a statement signed by Commissioner-General Reverend Dr Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah on Sunday, August 14 said.
The report issued on Wednesday, August 3 by Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng directed a wider investigation as regards the issuance of customs advance rulings and markdown of benchmark values to Labianca Group of Companies, owned by Council of State member Eunice Jacqueline Asomah-Hinneh, between July 2017 and December 2021.
Mr Agyebeng further directed Rev Dr Owusu-Amoah to submit an Integrity Plan designed with the aim of preventing the “corruption” of the exercise of discretion by officials of the Customs Division by December.
The GRA Commissioner-General emphasised that his outfit is ensuring that “unreasonable” exercise of discretionary power, which will result in the loss of revenue, is prevented.
“GRA uses this opportunity to assure all stakeholders of GRA and the general public that GRA has taken steps to ensure that all allegations of impropriety on the part of any of its staff are promptly and decisively investigated and that all cases of tax evasion or other acts that are contrary to the Laws governing the Authority will be dealt with,” Rev Dr Owusu-Amoah assured.