CEPS stifled the clearance of my goods - Witness

Accra, Sept. 26, GNA - Nana Atta Boamah, a Ghanaian Shipper based in the United States of America on Wednesday said the Customs Excise Preventive Service (CEPS) stifled the clearance of his goods, intimidated and extorted money from him.

He told the Justice Samuel Glenn Baddoo Committee sitting in Accra that he recently negotiated with a customs officer to reduce bribe money from 1,500 Ghana Cedis to 300 Ghana cedis to facilitate the clearance of some imported goods through the Tema port.

The Witness said after he had paid GH=A2 1,500, the officer harassed him to pay the rest of the money.

The Committee, which sits at the premises of the Revenue Agencies Governing Board in Accra, has since the beginning of August 2007, been investigating operational malpractices at the CEPS, and would at the end of its hearings make recommendations to enhance revenue collection by the Service.

Nana Boamah said he shipped some personal effects to Ghana through the Tema in 2005, and despite the payment of the import duty of 30 million cedis then, one Quainoo, a CEPS officer demanded an additional 15 million cedis from him because he found wax prints among the goods. The Witness, who said he was the Director of Royal Pacific Shipping in the US, said he ended up paying close to 200 million cedis duty on that shipment of goods, blaming the excessive payment on what he called "the war of information."

Nana Boamah said he again shipped some goods in 2006, and despite paying the duty of 22 million cedis then, CEPS officials delayed his agent from 0800 to 2000 hours, asking him to pay a bribe, which was reduced from 15 million to 11 million cedis, for some insulin products were found on his consignment.

He said one Mr Mantey, a customs officer, took the money. "Delaying, just waiting to clear your goods. It's like you've committed a crime. They don't care; no accountability," Nana Boamah said.

He again said after paying more than close to 27 million cedis then on a consignment in 2007, one customs officer, named Sheila, at the African Coastal Services (ACS) terminal at the Tema Port, made his clearing agent pay an extra five million cedis then, with an explanation that there were too many suitcases in that shipment.

"If I had paid all the necessary duties why five million cedis more?" Nana Boamah queried.

He again said Mr J. Lamptey and Bonetis Owusu, both officers in Room Seven at the CEPS Headquarters in Accra, asked him to pay an extra fee of 30 million cedis special tax on a 40-footer container he shipped in May 2007.

Nana criticised personnel of the Service for using their uniform to intimidate others, and he suggested to the Committee to recommend a hotline for all grievances on shipping, customs and clearance matters. 26 Sept. 07