OSP directs Customs to halt all auction sales as it launches investigation from 2016 to August 2022

A Statement by the OSP notes that it has commenced an investigation into suspected corruption and corruption-related offenses in respect of auction sales of vehicles and other goods by the Divison between July 1, 2016, and August 15, 2022.

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The Office of the Special Prosecutor has directed the Commissioner of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority to halt and discontinue all auction sales till it concludes its investigation on the same.

A Statement by the OSP notes that it has commenced an investigation into suspected corruption and corruption-related offenses in respect of auction sales of vehicles and other goods by the Divison between July 1, 2016, and August 15, 2022.

On August 8, 2022, the OSP in its full Report on the investigation into the alleged commission of corruption and corruption-related offenses involving La Bianca Group of Companies and the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority, directed the Ghana Revenue Authority to submit an Integrity Plan on or before December 31, 2022.

According to the OSP, this plan is aimed at preventing the corruption of the exercise of discretion by officials of the Customs Division, especially in respect of the rendering of rulings

Further to the above, it also directed the opening of a wider investigation in respect of the issuance of customs advance rulings and markdown of benchmark values between July 2017 and December 2021.

Additionally, the Special Prosecutor directed the Commissioner of the Customs Divison on August 19, 2022, to produce the following on or before September 30, 2022;

The particulars and clear description of all auctioned items

The quantity of all auctioned items

The prices at which the items were auctioned

The date of each auction sales

The full names, addresses, and telephone numbers of the successful bidders at all the auction sales.

The OSP has meanwhile directed the Commissioner to immediately halt and discontinue all auction sales till the investigation is concluded.