By Hillary Thompson, Accra
The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has ordered the Commissioner of Customs Division to discontinue all auction sales immediately.
The order is until an ongoing investigation into alleged corruption in auction activities at the Customs Division is completed.
“The Special Prosecutor further directed the Commissioner of the Customs Division to immediately halt and discontinue all auction sales until the investigation is concluded,” the OSP said in a press statement issued on Monday, August 22.
The OSP has commenced a probe into activities at the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).
The investigation is based on corruption and corruption-related auction sale of vehicles, and goods among other activities at the Division.
The probe is between July 1, 2016, and August 15, 2022.
The Office of the Special Prosecutor has commenced an investigation into suspected corruption and corruption-related offences in respect of auction sales of vehicles and other goods by the Customs Division of Ghana Revenue Authority between July 1, 2016, and August 15, 2022.
The Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng had demanded that the GRA’s Customs Division furnish his office with documents relating to all rulings and benchmark values applied dating back to 2017.
This is after OSP’s findings revealed alleged corrupt activities involving Labianca Group of Companies and the Customs Division.
The report concluded that the owner of the company, Eunice Jacqueline Buah Asomah-Hinneh, had taken advantage of her position as a Board member of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) at the time to get favours.
The Special Prosecutor recovered an amount of ¢1.074 million from the company whose owner doubles as a member of the Council of State.