A supervisor at the Vehicle Valuation Unit at the Customs Technical Services Bureau (CTSB) of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Justice Yadjayime has debunked assertions that the customs auction process is shrouded in secrecy.
Discussing the Evolution of the Customs Auction Regime in Ghana on Eye on Port, the Customs Official stated that the auction regime follows a transparent standard operating procedure.
This follows the call for transparency and fairness to be exercised within the auction process by the Chairman of the Tema Chapter of the Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders, Forwarder Johnny Mantey and the Acting President of the Customs Brokers Association of Ghana, Nana Fredua Agyemang Ofori-Atta.
They remained adamant that the ongoing operations of a certain syndicate circumvent the proper auction process, and this has caused confusion among importers and agents at the nation’s ports.
The Acting President of CUBAG, Nana Fredua Agyemang Ofori-Atta said: “Notwithstanding the existence of the SOPs mentioned by Customs, there are a lot of underhand dealings that occur in this area. People come in the name of all forms of institutions, like National Security, with letters and claim such entities have allowed them to take certain things. There are too many of them.”
Mr. Ofori-Atta said the alleged “cabal” has mastered the art of fishing out high value goods among the goods, and right at the end of the 14-day grace period for clearance, they are able to mysteriously gain access to such uncleared cargoes, and he suspects they are enabled by state actors.
“There are even instances where the importers have managed to pay for the duty at the last minute and are in the process to find funds to pay for the accrued rent, but before they realize, the containers are no way to be found,” he cited.
The Customs Official on the other hand, explained that allocations of uncleared cargoes are permissible by law.
Mr. Yadjayime said: “If you look at the Customs Act 891, Section 93, it empowers the Commissioner or Commissioner General to use auctions or dispose of with any other method including allocation.”
The Supervisor at the Vehicle Valuation Unit at CTSB noted however that “if there are perishable goods, they can be given out at any time. Perishable goods do not through the normal processes for auctions.”
He therefore urged importers and their agents to get accustomed to the customs laws pertaining auction.