National Security seizes Italy-bound high voltage cables

A joint national and port security operation has led to the interception of large quantities of high-tension electricity cables at the Takoradi Port.

The cables, which were in a 20-footer container with a Ghana Customs seal, were to be shipped to Italy.

Sources close to the operation told the Daily Graphic that the cables were cut into scraps and concealed in sacks before being loaded into the container.

The owner of the consignment, Georgina Boabeng, has been handed over to the Marine Police at the Takoradi Port for further investigations.

An official of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), who put the seal on the container certifying its contents, is alleged to have denied seeing the consignment, the sources said.

Officials of the Volta River Authority (VRA), the Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo) and the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) have been invited to inspect and identify the cables which may belong to them.

The cables, the sources added, were normally imported into the country and often used for high voltage power transmission.

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Shipping

An invoice made available to the Daily Graphic from the exporter, Sackey Richard Enterprise, and addressed to Rometalli S. R. L., VIA Marco Polo, 34 31020 San Fior, Italy, pegged the total value of the consignment at $95,000.

They said the concealed cables were described as non-ferrous metals, including copper and brass, with destination as Vince, Italy.

The seal number was CAU3107993, with the container number given as EU12626409.

‘Export permit’

According to the sources, the exporter produced a letter dated May 10, 2017, which was purported to have come from the Office of the Ministry of Trade and Industry, allegedly signed by the sector minister and issued on May 10, 2017, giving approval for the export of non-ferrous scrap metals.

The letter, which was valid for six months, had already expired.

The office of the national security coordinator at the port indicated that tracking the container was an uphill task, as the owners of the consignment were playing smart by moving the container around within the port.

He said at a point, they were told that the container had already left the country. However, at the final point of shipment, it was found and asked to be removed after which it was opened for examination.

The Director of Public Affairs and Marketing at the Takoradi Port, Mrs Agnes Moses, commended the team for the good work.

She said authorities of the port were ready to ensure that due diligence was followed at all times to protect the interests of the nation and users of the port.

Meanwhile, the National Security is investigating to know the exact source of the cables.