The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has launched an investigation into allegations of extortion by officers of the Customs Division Task Force in the Ashanti Region.
The Traders Advocacy Group Ghana (TAGG) had accused the task force of demanding payments from importers under the guise of enforcing proper valuations.
According to reports, a customs officer, Prince Daniels Mensah Odai, allegedly intercepted containers en route to Kumasi, claiming undervaluation and demanding additional payments. TAGG claims the officer initially demanded GHS 120,000 but settled for GHS 40,000, which was paid through mobile money and cash.
The GRA has assured stakeholders that it takes these allegations seriously and will conduct a comprehensive internal investigation.
The authority remains committed to upholding integrity, transparency, and fairness in its operations.
TAGG has issued a four-point demand, including:
– Immediate Investigation: Probe Officer Odai and the Ashanti Region Customs Task Force
– Comprehensive Audit: Review all Customs task forces and their oversight mechanisms
– Transparent Valuation: Eliminate arbitrary assessments and extortion
– Independent Reporting Channel: Allow traders to report corruption without fear of retaliation
The GRA urges stakeholders to report any malpractices through established channels, promising to keep the public informed about the investigation’s outcome.
