Ibrahim Mahama settles GHC12m GRA debt

Ibrahim Mahama, a brother of former President John Mahama, has settled a Ghs12 million debt owed the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).

Mr. Mahama was given a two-week ultimatum to defray the whopping amount else risk having his assets confiscated by the State.

He was alleged to have issued over 20 dud cheques in 2015 to the Customs Division of the GRA, being duties for imports of equipment. Anti-graft agency the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) is the lead investigative body probing the case.

Starrfmonline.com has seen two Stanbic Bank cheques from MBG Ltd and Holman Brothers – all belonging to Mahama – issued to the GRA to clear the debt. Both cheques were issued on May 4, 2017. MBG Ltd owes Ghs10,216,258.47 while the latter is due to pay Ghs2,176,544.61.

When Starrfmonline.com reached the Communication Department of the GRA for confirmation, an official who pleaded anonymity said: “We don’t have an information to that effect.”

Bakground

According to Assistant Commissioner for Communication of GRA, Robert Mensah, the businessman had a settlement arrangement with the tax collection outfit since December 2016 but failed to honour that pact from February 2017.

Mr. Mensah said the Authority got alarmed when the cheques were taken to the banks only to be told that the “accounts were closed.”

“An agreement was made to pay Ghs800, 000 per month… payment made so far falls short of that commitment. Within the next two weeks the two companies should make good all the indebtedness of Ghs10, 409, 492.86 million,” he added.