An investigative document from the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has revealed that Eunice Jacqueline Buah Asomah-Hinneh, a member of the Council of State, has been charged by the Office with corruption-related crimes.
In an investigative piece titled “Report of Investigation into Alleged Commission of Corruption and Corruption Related Offences involving Labianca Group of Companies and the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority”, the OSP cited Madam Asomah-Hinneh for using her position as Council of State member and board member of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPA) to impress upon the Ghana Revenue Authority to reduce the tax liabilities of her company, Labianca Limited.
Accordingly, the OSP revealed that it has recovered a total amount of GH1.074 million from Labianca Company Limited, representing the difference in import duties which should have been paid to the state.
The report also mentioned Mr. Joseph Adu-Kyei, a Deputy Commissioner of the GRA Customs Division, for reducing the benchmark values of imported frozen foods, thereby cutting the amount payable as tax by Liabianca Ltd.
“The OSP finds that there is strong evidence to suggest that Mr. Kyei’s decision to issue a customs advance ruling for the applicant was procured through influence peddling or trading of influence by Ms Asomah-Hinneh by employing her position as a member of the Council of State and a member of the Board of Directors of the GPHA.”
Liabianca Limited was consequently directed to pay an amount of GHC 1,074,624.18 representing shortages in taxes collected. According to the OSP, the company has complied with the directive.
One Frank Asare petitioned the OSP in November 2021 to look into the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority, Labianca Company, and its subsidiaries for alleged import duty evasion since 2017.
According to the complainant, Labianca and the Customs Division engaged in ongoing fraudulent, illegal, and dubious business practices that resulted in the illegal marking down or lowering of benchmark values for frozen food products that Labianca imported under the premise of customs advance rulings.
