Nii Okine In Computer Deals Scandal

Accra - Ghana's chief collector of custom duties, Nii Okine Adjei, who has been repeating the mantra that he would cleanse the rot at the Customs, Excise and Preventive Services (CEPS) is in the centre of controversial computer deals involving the evasion of duties and conflict of interest.

Chronicle can report today that he has been importing and selling computers for the institution he heads without the payment of duties to the state.

The amount of money that would have accrued to the state may not be known because the computers are not manifested and declared at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA), the port of entry.

For over a year, Nii Okine, who had been selling computers in his private capacity before he was appointed Commisssioner, has elbowed out traditional suppliers of computers to the service and existing tender procedures scrapped in a conflict of interest situation which is generating internal angst and outrage.

He has personally taken over the supply of computers to CEPS and refused to allow any other company to compete with him in the business.

He claimed in an interview with that his supplier, a top Ghanaian Executive with Hewlett Packard in the United States is known to him and President Rawlings at Achimota personally, and his prices are literally half the prices they used to pay for the products.

In a follow up interview with the Chronicle in his office over the matter, the CEPS Boss famous for his temper tantrums politely conceded that he has taken over the business because CEPS previously paid outrageous prices for the products.

Replying to suggestions that he may be supplying at discounts because he has been flouting the law by refusing to pay duties on his imports, he told Chronicle that he need not pay duties on computers he imports for the Service because CEPS will simply reconcile the payments in their books and accounts with Government. He is also said to be supplying others beside CEPS.

This strange irregular procedure of clearing has been sharply contradicted by a Member of Parliament. Honourable Kojo-Baah Wiredu (MP for Asante Akim-North) explained last week that only Parliament had the authority to waive duties or grant concessions under article 1742 of the Constitution and as far as he was aware, only diplomats and the President, plus a few companies qualified. CEPS was definitely not entitled to any such blanket exemption or reconciliatory arrangements, he submitted in answer to Chronicle queries on Nii Okine's defences. It is Parliament that grants exemptions, and neither CEPS nor Nii Okine has been granted an exemption on the importation of the computers, Baah-Wiredu, said.

Further, Chronicle investigations revealed a potentially fraudulent side to the Commisioner's deal: The products he has been bringing in on Ghana Airways' New York flight since he assumed office a year ago, are simply not manifested.

This means that the quantity and even any additional stuff in the cartons cannot not be known. His imports usually arrive at the airport with a bold inscription: "The COMMISSIONER, CEPS, ACCRA", ATTN: JAMES TCHOKPA.(Tchokpa is the Ceps officer in charge of the Kotoka International Airport).

That is enough deterrent for the customs officials at the airport caught in the terrifying reign of fear and discipline he has unleashed within the service to touch the cartons for processing.

It is almost an anathema for anyone to open or query the contents of the boxes which usually are always wheeled through the baggage hall of the KIA (instead of being taken to AFGO, the cargo village) and marked for "State Warehouse" and invariably end up at the warehouse of the service at the Ministries at Accra.

Chronicle investigators have visited the site and followed the trail. Snippets of information suggests that ubiquitous operatives of the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) have also gotten wind of the deal, trailed it and made reports.

Pointing to a computer in his office which he claimed was bought for $3,000.00, the CEPS boss said that he is now supplying computers for around $1,080.00 and to him he was saving the service money. He also said that the commission had only 24 computers when he arrived, and that he had added 102 computers to complement the number and facilitate the work at the ports.

But he failed to address the capacities of computers he was denigrating because prices vary greatly according to features and capacities like the size of the RAM (random access memory) or speed or internal fittings like modems etc, etc.

Chronicle also found that several Ghanaian dealers like Custom Computers at Swanzy Arcade at Kaneshie, AUWA Computers and another major wholesaler at the North Kaneshie Industrial Area for example, actually offer computers for less after paying duties, adding their cost of office rental, staff salaries, warehousing costs and advertising expenses.

The Daily Graphic is awash with adverts from companies offering the same type of computers supplied by Nii Okine for the equivalent of $960.00 (reality rates).

That Nii Okine personally benefits financially from this deal is a real possibility since he was already in the business before he joined CEPS.

Usually companies or individuals who represent companies or agencies overseas (like Nii Okine's HP friend), are reserved commission payments ranging from 10 to 30 per cent.

In several cases, the prices are "front loaded", that is the price of the product is padded or "beefed" up a little and the difference between the agreed price, say $1,000.00 and the invoice price, say $1,080 per box of computer or air conditioner, is set aside. This is usually added to the commission and sent to any account of one's choice - Chicago, Tema, London or New York as the instructions may be.

Nii Okine, a school mate of the First Couple is alleged to have gotten his job through his connections.

A lawyer who also lays claim to a Masters in Business Administration, he was an executive of the North American (Chicago) branch of the NDC.

When he returned to Ghana after a long sojourn in the United States, he was initially sent the Ministry of Finance as some kind of special assistant with no real schedule and it was from there that he started his personal computer sales business.

He used to struggle to pay his duties, Chronicle learnt from agents who know him at the airport.

He was also put on the Board of CEPS and according to one source, "he never spoke at Board meetings. It was like he was studying the place. He scarcely asked questions, but took notes."

Then without notice, Dr. Charles Asembri, the then Commissioner, was yanked out of office without any reason and Nii Adjei was posted to the service as Commissioner, and he immediately found his vocal chords, and re-wrote the rules.