Customs impounds uncustomed goods at Duayaw-Nkawanta

The Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has intercepted a cargo truck at its checkpoint at Koforidua, near Duayaw-Nkwanta in the Ahafo Region, carrying assorted uncustomed goods with a tax value of GH¢48,115.03.

The items included 1,490 bags of perfumed rice, 397 cartons of perfumed rice and 799 cartons of seasoning powder.

The acting Sunyani Sector Commander of Customs Division, Mrs Comfort Manu Marfo, told the Daily Graphic in Sunyani last Friday that Customs officers at the checkpoint intercepted the DAF cargo truck, with registration number AS 8445 - 12, about 11.30 p.m. last Tuesday.

Bribe rejected

She said the driver of the truck attempted to bribe the Customs officers who intercepted the vehicle but they refused his overtures.

The officers, instead, carried on with their inspection, after which the truck was kept overnight.

Mrs Marfo said the truck was currently at the Sunyani Headquarters of the Customs Division, awaiting the owner of the goods to arrive for interrogation.

She said apart from the tax evaded on the goods, the owner would be required to pay up to 300 per cent of the value of the goods as penalty.

Unapproved routes

Mrs Marfo said the goods were suspected to have come through one of the numerous unapproved routes at Sampa, the capital of the Jaman North District in the Bono Region, which shared border with neighbouring communities in Cote d’Ivoire.

She explained that contraband goods were normally transported as head loads and on tricycles through the unapproved routes to Ghana before being loaded onto trucks to their final destinations.

She commended the Customs officers through whose patriotism and vigilance the goods were intercepted and gave an assurance that the Customs Division would leave no stone unturned in ensuring that smugglers were brought to book.

“We are determined to work hard to assist the President to realise the government’s vision of a Ghana Beyond Aid by making sure that all taxes owed the state are collected,” Mrs Marfo said.