The full list of the senior officers of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) who have been interdicted for allegedly engaging in various acts of misconduct that has caused the state to lose huge sums of revenue, has emerged.
The affected officers−15 in all, consist of four females and 11 males who are banned from using their office identity cards as punishment for their alleged nefarious activities capable of compromising the national economy and security are Christine Bantas, Lydia Attipoe, Rose Obeng Manu and Mary Ann Okunnor as the suspended female officers.
Names of the interdicted male officers are: Eric Kwaku Bonney, Aaron Morgan Ahiadro, Jonathan Gyan Anaman, Jacob Hayford, David Yao Adranu, Emmanuel Ekow Parker, Francis Stephenson, Yao Boakye Agyemang, Walter Kumah, Mumuni Abdulai and Joseph Allan.
The affected revenue collectors from Tema and other Sector Commands across the country, with Tema having the majority were banned from all offices under the GRA.
They were said to have purportedly connived with certain companies to evade duties and taxes, causing a huge financial loss to the state.
Acting Commissioner, Support Services Division, Fred Charles Anson who signed the interdiction letters further asked the affected officers to hand over all properties belonging to the Authority to their various sector commanders before leaving the office.
They were barred also from entering GRA offices until investigations are concluded or otherwise directed.
Some of them will be getting two-thirds of their monthly salaries during the interdiction period while others were stripped of their salaries until the cases are disposed off.
An interdiction letter sent to a female culprit who is stationed at Tema and sighted by DAILY GUIDE indicates that she has caused the GRA to incur a total liability of GH¢17,151,593.72, being revenue loss of GH¢8,575,796.86 and 100 percent penalty thereof.
The letter which was issued on May 18, 2017 reads further that “The Authority has taken a very serious view of your conduct and has decided to interdict you to pave way for a thorough investigation to be carried out into the matter.
“Consequently you have been interdicted with effect from May 18, 2017. You are to hand over your duties and all Authority’s property in your custody including your ID to your Sector Commander before leaving the office.”
Linda Ofori Kwarfo, Executive Director of the Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII) has suggested to government to reduce human involvement in the clearing of goods in order to address the corruption menace.
She further called on government to ensure more supervision and control at the ports, lauding government for the steps taken so far to address corruption at the ports.
Meanwhile, the GRA has set up a committee to investigate the matter and bring up findings and recommendations for disciplinary action to be taken.