OSP probing vehicle auction sales by Customs since 2016

The Office of the Special Prosecutor has commenced 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.

A statement dated August 22, 2022 and issued by the Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng said on August 19, 2022, the Commissioner of the Customs Division was directed to produce some pertinent documentation to aid the probe on or before September 30, 2022.

The office wants the particulars and clear description of all auctioned items, the quantity of all auctioned items, the prices at which the items were auctioned, the date of each auction sale, and the full names, addresses, and telephone numbers of the successful bidders at all the auction sales.

Meanwhile, the Special Prosecutor has "further directed the Commissioner of the Customs Division to immediately halt and discontinue all auction sales till the investigation is concluded.

Following the probe that cited Labianca Company Limited for corruption-related acts, the Special Prosecutor has also commenced a wider investigation into the issuance of customs advance rulings and markdowns of benchmark values between July 2017 and December 2021.

Below is a copy of the statement

CUSTOMS DIVISION OF GHANA REVENUE AUTHORITY

The Office of the Special Prosecutor has commenced 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 1 July 2016 and 15 August 2022.

On 19 August 2022, the Special Prosecutor directed the Commissioner of the Customs Division to produce the following to the Office of the Special Prosecutor on or before 30 September 2022:

i. The particulars and clear description of all auctioned items

ii. The quantity of all auctioned items

iii. The prices at which the items were auctioned

iv. The date of each auction sales

v. The full names, addresses, and telephone numbers of the successful bidders at all the auction sales.

The Special Prosecutor further directed the Commissioner of the Customs Division to immediately halt and discontinue all auction sales till the investigation is concluded.

[SGD]
KISSI AGYEBENG
SPECIAL PROSECUTOR