Anti-Corruption Group Demands Answers Over Release Of 236 ECG Containers

The Movement for Truth and Accountability, an anti-corruption advocacy group, has raised concerns over the alleged mysterious release of 236 Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) Limited seized containers from the Tema Port.

The body is demanding answers from the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and other state institutions.

The group, led by its Convenor, Joseph Bediako, has petitioned the Right to Information (RTI) Commission to compel the GRA to disclose details surrounding the clearance of the containers, which were reportedly under the control of the state.

According to a letter addressed to the Commissioner-General of the GRA, the group claimed information available from the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority suggested that the containers, which were classified as Uncleared Cargo List (UCL) goods, had been taken out of the port under unclear circumstances.

The group questioned why the containers were allegedly released without the payment of duties, despite regulations requiring all UCL containers to remain under the custody of the State Warehouse until duties are settled or auction processes are completed.

Among the questions raised by the Movement for Truth and Accountability were where the goods had been taken, who currently had control over them and who authorised their release from the port.

The group also demanded to know the identities of the beneficiaries of the containers and the purpose for which the goods were allegedly removed from the state warehouse system.

In the petition, the anti-corruption body further claimed that officials in charge of the State Warehouse were allegedly unaware of the movement of the containers prior to their release.

“Information reaching us is that those in charge of the State Warehouse, according to our information, were not aware before all these containers were taken away, so why?” the petition questioned.

The group warned that it would pursue further action should the authorities fail to provide satisfactory responses.

In response to the RTI Commission regarding the request for information, the GRA acknowledged receipt of the petition and disclosed that the matter was currently under investigation by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Headquarters of the Ghana Police Service in Accra.

In a letter signed by Mrs Florence Asante, Commissioner for Communication and Public Affairs at the GRA, the Authority stated that the containers in question formed part of a larger ongoing investigation being conducted in collaboration with the Customs Division.

“The Customs Division is collaborating with the Police in this investigation and we are, therefore, unable to provide details of the information requested until investigations are concluded,” the statement said.

 

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