Scrap Tax On Over-aged Vehicles - Ewum-Tohma

Accra, - Mr Issac D. Ewum-Tohma, Commissioner of Customs, Excise and Preventive Service, has called for the repealing or the reviewing of the law governing over-aged cars imported into the country. He said the imposed tax, which is the highest in the sub-region on over-aged cars, has brought in its wake total evasion by importers who use neighbouring countries as points of entry. Speaking to the GNA in an interview in Accra today, Mr Ewum- Tohma, explained that the cars are registered using ECOWAS numbers which gives them free entry into Ghana. This situation, he stated, is leading to huge loss of revenue to the state, as well as an influx of over-aged cars into the Ghanaian market. He said the cars find their way to garages where the chassis numbers and the colour are changed. Mr Ewum-Tohma traced the history of this operation to the early '80s and said interception of the vehicles started barely two years ago with about 1,500 cars being seized. Investigations have revealed that the operation is being carried out by a syndicate involving officials of CEPS, foreign nationals and some Ghanaians. So far, three officals of CEPS have been arrested. Mr Ewun-Tohma said a team would soon be established from his outfit to monitor and investigate the operations of all garages in the metropolis. Vehicles without proper documents would be seized, auctioned or duties paid on them and the garages shut down, he added.

Accra, - Mr Issac D. Ewum-Tohma, Commissioner of Customs, Excise and Preventive Service, has called for the repealing or the reviewing of the law governing over-aged cars imported into the country. He said the imposed tax, which is the highest in the sub-region on over-aged cars, has brought in its wake total evasion by importers who use neighbouring countries as points of entry. Speaking to the GNA in an interview in Accra today, Mr Ewum- Tohma, explained that the cars are registered using ECOWAS numbers which gives them free entry into Ghana. This situation, he stated, is leading to huge loss of revenue to the state, as well as an influx of over-aged cars into the Ghanaian market. He said the cars find their way to garages where the chassis numbers and the colour are changed. Mr Ewum-Tohma traced the history of this operation to the early '80s and said interception of the vehicles started barely two years ago with about 1,500 cars being seized. Investigations have revealed that the operation is being carried out by a syndicate involving officials of CEPS, foreign nationals and some Ghanaians. So far, three officals of CEPS have been arrested. Mr Ewun-Tohma said a team would soon be established from his outfit to monitor and investigate the operations of all garages in the metropolis. Vehicles without proper documents would be seized, auctioned or duties paid on them and the garages shut down, he added.