Near fight at CEPS Probe

Accra, Sept 18, GNA - The timely intervention of both the Chairman and the lead counsel prevented a fight between two angry opposing witnesses at Monday's sitting of the Committee Investigating Operational Malpractices at the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS). The action was between Ms Millicent Kweikor Akpo-Teye, until recently the head of the auction unit of the Tema Port and a duo, Mr Felix Ampomah Anarfi and Regina Maame Bempomaa both traders.

Ms Akpo-Teye was giving evidence on the conduct of auction as the Tema Port to state her side of allegations of shortage or damage of goods in auctioned containers, reduction of sale prices of auctioned goods and allegation of bribery from a bidder.

Ms Akpo-Teye said she had never received any bribe money from the two, and neither had she promised to offer them container of t-rolls and floor tiles.

She said when the two people's attempt to influence her, failed, they threatened to use their acquaintance with people in high governmental circles to get what they wanted, adding that it had been the practice of Maame Bempomaa to malign her. She added however, that Maame Bempomaa once wept when she was confronted with a false allegation she made against her that she had given her a bribe of 3,000 Ghana Cedis.

Angry Maame Bempomaa exclaimed "Nyame Betua Wo Ka!" (God will punish you!), as Ms Akpo-Teye told the Committee that Mr Anarfi, to buttress his links with high governmental circles.

The Committee asked duo: Mr Anarfi and Bempomaa to comport themselves. The Chairman, Mr Justice Glenn Baddoo, called for patience by all parties for the "serious business" the Committee was doing for the nation.

Ms Akpo-Teye said after Mr Anarfi and Maame Bempomaa failed to influence her, the Deputy Commissioner in Charge of the Tema Port, handed her last June, a note purported to have been written by the Finance Minister to allocate two containers of wax prints to them, but she explained that those containers were restricted. However, upon further consultations from her superior officers, the CEPS Commissioner directed that those containers were brought to the Accra head office.

She said about six days later, the Mr Anarfi and Maame Bempomaa came with a list to be allocated four containers to them in replacement of those two containers.

Witness said only two could be allocated to them at the time with the promise to later supply them the remaining two because there more bidders to very few containers at the time.

The Finance Minister inaugurated the four-member committee last July to investigate allegations of operational malpractices at the CEPS. It is also to establish administrative actions against culpable personnel and identify management weaknesses in dealing expeditiously with disciplinary matters.

The Committee is also reviewing the systems, procedures, processes, rules and regulations of CEPS in relation to its auction procedures and examine the role of clearing agents, auctioneers and other related matters and recommend specific actions or alternatives for disposing of seized goods.