A February 2023 intelligence on some importers and two companies who falsified their bill of lading documents to evade duties at the port has warranted a warning from the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) to all clearing agents.
The Customs Division of the GRA has asked those involved in such treachery to desist from harbouring the mindset to shortchange the system.
Such persons, when caught up with the law, would not be spared, according to the Commissioner for Customs, Alhaji Idrisu Seidu Iddisa.
“It was revealed that some agents process customs declarations with inaccurate particulars with the aim of paying lower Customs duty and taxes. The agent consequently provided cloned customs declarations (Flying Entry) containing actual description of the goods, the actual customs value, duty rates and collected the amount payable from the importer and provided fake description of goods, values which attracted lower duties to customs,” he disclosed to 3Business in an interview.
The Commissioner of Customs pointed out that the bills of lading from the shipping lines and invoices declared to Customs were falsified by the local shipping line.
“Whiles demand notices have been issued for retrieving the taxes and penalties lost to the state, investigations are ongoing which may lead to prosecution” he added..
The Commissioner also hinted that investigations are being expanded to ‘fish out’ all who may be part of such syndicates for the necessary sanctions to be applied.
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