The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has opened an investigation into reports that 28 containers at the Tema Port have gone missing or were moved without proper authorisation.
The inquiry follows a petition submitted on September 29 by importers and their representatives to the GRA Commissioner-General, Anthony Kwasi Sarpong, seeking clarification on the whereabouts of the affected consignments.
According to the petition, the containers were at various points in the customs clearance process when concerns emerged.
Some were reportedly found empty, others were said to have been moved to private warehouses, while additional consignments were allegedly taken from the port without the knowledge or consent of their owners.
The containers reportedly carried a range of goods, including cyanide, condensed milk, sardines, alcohol, textiles, pharmaceuticals, black pepper and tomato paste.
Reports indicate that some of the consignments were transferred to private warehouses around the GHACEM enclave, while others were allegedly removed from the port without authorisation from the importers.
The matter has also been referred to the Tema Regional Police Command. Several arrests have reportedly been made, although the suspects were subsequently granted police enquiry bail.
To determine what happened, Mr Sarpong has set up a nine-member fact-finding and investigative committee chaired by Commissioner of Customs, Aaron Kanor.
The committee includes senior officials from the GRA’s legal, customs operations, post-clearance audit, preventive, investigations and information technology divisions.
Its mandate is to verify the claims and determine the present status and location of each of the 28 containers.
The committee will examine electronic data on the Integrated Customs Management System (ICUMS), including customs declarations, gazetting records and gate-out logs linked to the affected bills of lading.
It will also investigate whether established customs procedures were breached and determine if GRA officials or individuals outside the Authority played any role in the alleged movements.
In addition, the panel is expected to calculate any revenue losses arising from the reported incidents and recommend measures for recovering such losses where applicable.
The investigation will also consider allegations of possible cartel operations and claims that the names of senior officials were invoked in relation to the movement of the containers.
Mr Sarpong has instructed the committee to begin its work without delay and present its report within 14 days.
All relevant departments and stakeholders at the Tema Collection have been directed to provide their full cooperation to the committee.
