Editorial: Domestic revenue mobilisation uncompromising as GRA cracks down on smuggling!

 

A joint operation by the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and National Security has prevented a loss of significant state revenue and helped safeguard public resources.

Commissioner-General of the GRA Anthony Kwasi Sarpong informed the public, via a media engagement, that the joint operation intercepted smuggled goods valued at GH¢3.6million in two separate exercises conducted at Tema and Aflao.

Four trucks carrying diverted goods – comprising 9,000 jerry cans of cooking oil – were impounded in a warehouse in Tema. The total import duty on the consignment is estimated at GH¢1.9million.

According to Mr. Sarpong, since transit goods do not attract payment of duties, the items were falsely declared as transit goods with Burkina Faso listed as the destination; but in reality, they were diverted to a warehouse within the Tema enclave.

Also, tracking devices on the trucks had been deliberately disabled to avoid detection.

A similar enforcement operation at the Aflao Collection enclave led to seizure of multiple trucks carrying uncustomed goods including rice, sugar, tomato paste, beverages, textiles and clothing. Estimated duties on the intercepted goods amount to approximately GH¢1.7million.

Mr. Sarpong said proceeds from the sale of these confiscated items will be credited directly to the state’s account. Additionally, truck owners involved will also be surcharged as a deterrent for facilitating the movement of goods without payment of duties.

The Commissioner-General cautioned that GRA will not tolerate any attempts at circumventing the system to evade or avoid tax. It will be recalled that in October this year, GRA intercepted 540,000 litres of diverted diesel valued at GH¢2.3million.

The state realised GH¢4.6million in tax revenue from the enforcement action. GRA said the operations’ success underscores strong collaboration between the Authority and national security agencies in combatting smuggling.

This could just be the tip of the iceberg and this Paper encourages GRA and other state security agencies to step up their vigilance and ensure tax evaders are brought to book. We cannot compromise on our domestic revenue mobilisation efforts since meeting domestic revenue targets has been quite challenging

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