A board member of the Ghana Ports and Harbour Authority (GHPHA), Eunice Hinneh, has been cited in a complaint filed with the Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyabeng, for evading import duties and its associated revenues on some imported products.
A letter dated November 16, 2021 by one Frank Asare, alleged that Mrs. Hinneh who is the owner of La Bianca Company Limited, applied for consideration on import values for frozen foods the company had imported.
The Deputy Commissioner, Operations at the Custom Division, whose office the application was sent, was said to have granted a 10% reduction in the benchmark values for the imported frozen foods.
The Deputy Commissioner, according to Frank Asare, “cited section 12 of the Customs Act, 2015 (Act 891) as the basis of the discount of the 10% markdown he granted the company.”
However, the complainant argued that the grant of 10% reduction to La Bianca Company was in contravention with the provision of the law and the international best practices, hence, an illegality.
“Complainant says that the approved 10% mark down to La Bianca Company Limited was done in an arbitrary and discriminatory manner with intent to unduly favour La Bianca Company Limited over its business competitors” the letter partly read.
Mr. Asare further accused Mrs. Hinneh of enjoying the illegally acquired discount because of her “position of influence as a member of the governing board of Ghana Port and Harbour Authority and a member of the Council of State.”
He also cited her to have used her position of influence to escape a 300% penalty charge for misdescribing some imported goods in October 2021.
He therefore called on Mr. Agyabeng to inquire into the allegations to save the state from revenue losses.
