A certified economist and a member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Bernard Oduro Takyi has condemned a business executive and member of the Council of State, Eunice Jacqueline Asomah-Hinneh for evading taxes to the tune of ¢1.074 million.
Madam Asomah-Hinneh, the CEO of frozen foods company, Labianca Group of Companies is said to have evaded the taxes with the help of some GRA officials.
As calls heighten for the business woman to resign and be prosecuted although the amount has been recovered from Labianca, B.O.T urged the national communication officer of the NDC, Samuel Gyamfi, to, as usual, hold a press conference or release a statement to condemn Labianca and president Akufo-Addo for the act.
“I want to call on Sammy Gyamfi; he should speak out. If he’s able to travel to U.S and file a complaint against Delta Airlines whose business doesn’t really affect our economy here, then he should be able to speak against Labianca who is a member of the council of state. She has evaded taxes and I want to see Sammy Gyamfi speak to it,” the youth activist stated on Dwaboase on TV XYZ.
Oduro Takyi also went on and explained why the NDC ought to be interested in the matter when the host, Prince Minkah quizzed about why he was only interested in the NDC’s reaction to the matter.
“Why not the NDC? because we are the best people waiting to be in government. We must show some sense of seriousness as the next Government in waiting,” he added.
To him, “Sammy Gyamfi must organise a press conference and let Ghanaians know that there is a council of state member who has evaded taxes. Let us get that call from Sammy Gyamfi as a spokesperson of the party.”
Background
The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) recently said his outfit had recovered an amount of ¢1.074 million from Labianca Group of Companies as a shortfall in import duties paid to the state.
The OSP’s revelation was in an investigative report titled: “Report of Investigation into Alleged Commission of Corruption and Corruption Related Offences involving Labianca Group of Companies and the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority”.
The OSP contended that Ms Asomah-Hinneh used her position as a member of the Council of State and member of the Board of Directors of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) to get a favourable decision from the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).
In the report signed by the Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, alleged that the influence-peddling by Ms Asomah-Hinneh led to a reduction in the tax liabilities for her frozen foods company, Labianca Company Limited.
A Deputy Commissioner of Customs in charge of Operations, Joseph Adu Kyei was cited by the OSP for issuing what it described as an unlawful customs advance ruling.
This, according to the report, reduced the benchmark values of the goods imported by Labianca Limited translating to reduced tax obligations of the company to the state.
“The OSP finds that there is strong evidence to suggest that Mr Kyei’s decision to issue a customs advance ruling for the applicant was procured through influence peddling or trading of influence by Ms Asomah-Hinneh by employing her position as a member of the Council of State and member of the Board of Directors of the GPHA,” part of the report read.
Meanwhile, anti-corruption campaigner, Vitus Azeem has urged President Nana Akufo-Addo to push a member of the Council of State, Eunice Jacqueline Buah Asomah-Hinneh to resign for evading tax.
Source:Myxyzonline.com
