90% of importers fake invoices - CEPS

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messa 12 years ago

ease the burden on ghana busnisses

ease the burden on ghana busnisses
Nii 12 years ago

Reduce taxes and importers would pay without any difficulty,

Reduce taxes and importers would pay without any difficulty,
ALABAMA 12 years ago

Mr Jacob Agyeman should stop making statements like the problem at the ports are getting worse and the cost of doing business has increased. Give concreate areas and ask his workers to stop wasting time giving bribes, looking ...
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Mr Jacob Agyeman should stop making statements like the problem at the ports are getting worse and the cost of doing business has increased. Give concreate areas and ask his workers to stop wasting time giving bribes, looking for the right time to check out. Time wasted adds up to cost. Just pay the Freight and you will be find.
GHFUO, BE SERIOUS NOT PRIDEFUL! 12 years ago

SPARE THE ROD N SPOIL THE EMPLOYEE. EVER HEARD F CHARGES, BAIL, CONVICTION, JAIL TERM ETC...START DOING THIS N THE RUTHLESS EMPLOYEES WILL WISEN UP. START PAYING POLICE OFFICERS, WITNESSES/CHOOKERS/UNDERCOVER MORE MONEY, RAI ...
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SPARE THE ROD N SPOIL THE EMPLOYEE. EVER HEARD F CHARGES, BAIL, CONVICTION, JAIL TERM ETC...START DOING THIS N THE RUTHLESS EMPLOYEES WILL WISEN UP. START PAYING POLICE OFFICERS, WITNESSES/CHOOKERS/UNDERCOVER MORE MONEY, RAISES FOR THEIR WORK.IN NO TIME, U WILL SEE ARRESTS GO UP. CORRUPTION, BRIBERY WILL GO DOWN
KANAWU 12 years ago

SIMPLY THAT: 90% OF YOUR GUYS TAKE BRIBES AT THE PORTS

SIMPLY THAT: 90% OF YOUR GUYS TAKE BRIBES AT THE PORTS
Living in Kumasi 12 years ago

If they did not MAKE you give bribes then I am sure that the invoitces would not be fake. In fact, it is probably the employee themselves that are faking the invoices.

Too much corruption...but where to start to make it s ...
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If they did not MAKE you give bribes then I am sure that the invoitces would not be fake. In fact, it is probably the employee themselves that are faking the invoices.

Too much corruption...but where to start to make it stop?
Abeeku Mensah 12 years ago

There is a sure way to stop this ongoing mess and the government won't do it because it suits our bribery prone system just fine the way things are.
There is no law, international or local, that will prohibit Ghana's Port au ...
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There is a sure way to stop this ongoing mess and the government won't do it because it suits our bribery prone system just fine the way things are.
There is no law, international or local, that will prohibit Ghana's Port authority and the Ghana government from implementing an online system that forces every shipment bound for Ghana to be declared, item by item and container by container at or prior to ships leaving port of departure.
This process should give CEPs, local importers and DIC's ample time to do their own calculations for VAT and other taxes that may be due to the Port authority on expected shipments. This should also give government the ability to engage in revenue forecasts on a quarterly or annual basis or formulating budgetary plans by our parliamentarians during national budgetary processes. I dare anyone at the national government offices and or CEPs and the Port authority to say this ain't so.
MANTSE 12 years ago

Abeeku,You seem to know what you are talking about.

It is sad that during such difficult moments of our Contry's Finances, we continue to do things the same way and expect that, by some magic, outcomes will be different.
...
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Abeeku,You seem to know what you are talking about.

It is sad that during such difficult moments of our Contry's Finances, we continue to do things the same way and expect that, by some magic, outcomes will be different.

We continue to remain clueless as to very simple solutions to our problems.

we always manage to complicate things, erroneously beliving that this will abate corruption and malfeasance. And the result is that Corruption soars.

The issue of FAKE Documents can be addressed by simply requesting EXPORT DECLARATION from Country of Origin of the goods. This takes only a couple of days after shipment and long before goods arrive. VERY, VERY SIMPLE and Documents are the actuals covering the transaction, copies of which were sent to the Buyer.

Customs Clearance Procedures can be collapsed into no more than 5 Steps at a One-Stop Shop in the Longroom and clearance time will be drastically reduced.

When Nii Adjei was Commissioner he introduced a system that those with Genuine Documents could be cleared by Customs within 45 minutes. This was monitored by the Commissioner himself.

He had Time and Date Matrix on the first page of each Landing Account with Pre-determined Action Time specified for each step in the chain.

Those who exceeded the expected time are given Querries to explain and whatever difficulties led to the problem are addressed.

Please, in short, Ghanaians and our Government must realize that the ONLY Measure that must inform who gets appointed to some of these positions must be whether the appointing Authorities will be prepared to give their businesses and Assets to such individuals to manage. You see, the quantum of the Collective Assets of Ghana is much more than that of any man or company in Ghana.

Yet, we take refuge in Political Patronage and appoint people who lack the requisites and whom we may not hire as even Middle Level Managers for our private enterprises.

Just what do we expect? Some Majic?

When we place Government Business worth Billions Of Cedis in the hands of folks who have no PROVEN TRACK RECORD of having ever managed ANYTHING in their lives, the outcomes are what we are experiencing.

Why are some Senior Government and Party people against appointing certain TESTED and PROVEN individuals to help manage these institutions? If you will NOT allow the CHOP-CHOP and the abuse you are automatically disqualified from consideration.

Our Govt is certainly aware of these things but lacks the Political Fortitude to deal with them and the CROOKS are laughing all the way to the Bank.

One Man who stole 28 Billion Cedis from the Ghana Govt in 1998, belonged to both NDC and NPP. After having displayed the NDC Party Card to steal, when he was arrested he displayed the NPP card to plead Political vindictiveness. Lo and Behold the NPP won the 2000 elections and Customs invited this man and apologized to him. He claimed to have spread 200 Million cedis to the political Parties and they allowed him to get away with this collossal sum when this man had confessed to crimes. How do I know, I am with CEPS.

These problems confronting our country are very ordinary and require ONLY Common Sense which God gave all of us. Prayers will NOT resolve these problems. God doesn't have time for those who run to him with every little problem when the solution is common sense based.
Paa Kodwo 12 years ago

WHOEVER DOES THAT IS A CRIMINAL AND SHOULD MEET THE FULL WEIGHT OF THE LAWS IN THE COUNTRY.

OUR ONLY TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION, MANIPULATION AND FRAUD.

WHOEVER DOES THAT IS A CRIMINAL AND SHOULD MEET THE FULL WEIGHT OF THE LAWS IN THE COUNTRY.

OUR ONLY TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION, MANIPULATION AND FRAUD.
no mercy 12 years ago

So Many Fake things going on in Ghana
,because our leader Fake,Thief,NDC
MAHAMA, go,go to Zongo,

So Many Fake things going on in Ghana
,because our leader Fake,Thief,NDC
MAHAMA, go,go to Zongo,

mimi 12 years ago

Did these fake things start today. Pl. reason in what you say.

Did these fake things start today. Pl. reason in what you say.
Yag 12 years ago

CEPS officials should declear their assets and publish them and let see who are duping the nation.leave the importers alone and check your staffs and stop this blame game.

CEPS officials should declear their assets and publish them and let see who are duping the nation.leave the importers alone and check your staffs and stop this blame game.
SAM TEMA 12 years ago

WHO DECLEARS ASSETS IN GHANA A CUSTOM OFFICER IN TEMA PORT CAN BUY MANSION OF 1 MILLON US DOLLARS FOR JUST 1 MONTH

WHO DECLEARS ASSETS IN GHANA A CUSTOM OFFICER IN TEMA PORT CAN BUY MANSION OF 1 MILLON US DOLLARS FOR JUST 1 MONTH
messa 12 years ago

you cant import anything to ghana without paying bribes so rather then pay the right amount and inabillity to pay bribes the ghana brothers must due what they got to do to survive

you cant import anything to ghana without paying bribes so rather then pay the right amount and inabillity to pay bribes the ghana brothers must due what they got to do to survive
asanyka 12 years ago

90% present fake docs and never have we heard someone prosecuted for forgery in this regard.give us a break and look for solutions for the deep-seated problems of corruption and bribery prevailing on our seaports.let me offer ...
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90% present fake docs and never have we heard someone prosecuted for forgery in this regard.give us a break and look for solutions for the deep-seated problems of corruption and bribery prevailing on our seaports.let me offer one simple solution which I believe every lay ghanaman knows. Reduce the taxes and build the country's infrastructure with the monies gov collect and people will be willing to pay taxes when they see what their tax cash is doing for them.
Ghanabiya 12 years ago

The credibility problems the people are having with the 3 branches of the government are the same thing the institutions are having with organizations they are set up to serve.

All these goes to show the extent of the prob ...
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The credibility problems the people are having with the 3 branches of the government are the same thing the institutions are having with organizations they are set up to serve.

All these goes to show the extent of the problem of corruption in the country. It is the 3 branches of government - the legislature, the executive and the judiciary - who should take the initiative to correct things.

If these arms of the government behave well, the people will follow suit. They should stop interfering with the workings of institutions of the state and rather strengthen them.
Sigmma4 12 years ago

The root cause of all these are the unreasonably high customs duties that Ghana charges on imported goods and so long as it remains that way, invoices will always be under stated. Also, the process of clearing goods at our po ...
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The root cause of all these are the unreasonably high customs duties that Ghana charges on imported goods and so long as it remains that way, invoices will always be under stated. Also, the process of clearing goods at our ports are so cumbersome that the only way out for importers to make meager profits after high duties and bribes is to forge a lower invoice. Solve these two problems, more importers will pay the right taxes and Ghana will win.
ghanaba 12 years ago

this is nonsense. customs have access to every price around the globe, just appply int. standards. monkey ghs monkey excuses. one day i may ban ananse story in our culture. we grow with ananse stories.

this is nonsense. customs have access to every price around the globe, just appply int. standards. monkey ghs monkey excuses. one day i may ban ananse story in our culture. we grow with ananse stories.
GHANANI 12 years ago

Under-invoicing,under-valuation,multiple exportation/importation with one licence and outright non-payment of duty are the factors militating against revenue collection at the ports and borders.Most of these crimes are commit ...
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Under-invoicing,under-valuation,multiple exportation/importation with one licence and outright non-payment of duty are the factors militating against revenue collection at the ports and borders.Most of these crimes are committed with the connivance of those with the responsibility to prevent them.No wonder no government in Ghana has been able to achieve its revenue target.
obroni 12 years ago

Indeed many of them do, but I remember I bought 2 containers of paint of a bankrupt company in Holland at 1 Euro a kg can. Send it to Ghana with the original invoice of the auctioneer, who is in Holland a Notary Public, and C ...
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Indeed many of them do, but I remember I bought 2 containers of paint of a bankrupt company in Holland at 1 Euro a kg can. Send it to Ghana with the original invoice of the auctioneer, who is in Holland a Notary Public, and CEPS taxed me at 12 Euro a can ! ! ! ! !
Note well most goods Ghanaians buy abroad are low quality, auction sales or left overs sold over there at low prices. Duties imposed on us are often higher then our purchase prices.

Living in Kumasi 12 years ago

And that is really ridiculous. Hence the reason why Ghana receives such low quality products...

It can't work both ways.

And that is really ridiculous. Hence the reason why Ghana receives such low quality products...

It can't work both ways.
Moses 12 years ago

The duties levied on imported items are not often higher than the purchase prices; rather they are higher than the purchase prices 100% of the time. The Government itself is involved in criminality by in effect overinvoicing ...
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The duties levied on imported items are not often higher than the purchase prices; rather they are higher than the purchase prices 100% of the time. The Government itself is involved in criminality by in effect overinvoicing imported items. If some importers are engaging in underinvoicing to counterract the Government's criminal behaviour, why should they complain?
Speedy Gonzalez. 12 years ago

You are all the same,corrupt.The CEPS officers are corrupt,the importers are corrupt and the clearing agents are as well corrupt.

You are all the same,corrupt.The CEPS officers are corrupt,the importers are corrupt and the clearing agents are as well corrupt.
Asea Ho 12 years ago

Insist on the original invoice. Have you penalized, or prosecuted an importer or clearing agent for this felony act? YOU connive with importers (indirectly through clearing agents and your custom officers), and try to shift b ...
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Insist on the original invoice. Have you penalized, or prosecuted an importer or clearing agent for this felony act? YOU connive with importers (indirectly through clearing agents and your custom officers), and try to shift blame.

In March and April I cleared some goods at the Tema Port. This is what I observed.

1. 1. The clearing agent advises the importers not to rely on their original invoice. The reason they give is that the customs officers will hype the duty because the importer is trying to be genuine. Not only that, they (CEPS) will also delay the clearing process. This is 100% true, I experienced it; It took me about three days to clear my personal effects, after 20 years stay in the USA.
2. With this situation created, the clearing agent promise to quicken the process. The corrupt importers whose goal is to maximize profit accepts the offer and the clearing agents in collaboration with CEPS officials and the importer, work to deny the nation the required revenue.
3. The process:
a. The agent prepares a handwritten invoice on a CEPS required form and excludes some taxable item or reduces the actual quantity of good. For example: I 3000 bags of rice cleared as 1500 bags; new computers cleared as used computers; new spare parts listed as craps; etc.
b. The Agent then demands a reasonable amount from the importer as miscellaneous fee (bribe fee). This amount is to enable the Agent to pay bribe to CEPs, Port security and Special Task force officials (from the long room through to the final check point. If the importer fails to pay this amount, the agent will keep the invoice with the excuse that the CEPS officials are delaying the process. If he pays the fees then he should accept a smooth and quick clearance of goods. But that is not the truth.
c. The reality is that, at every point in the unnecessary long clearing chain, CEPs, Port security and Special Task force officials; and to some extent the common messenger knowing the corrupt deal will demand some amount (sometimes higher than what the Agent anticipated). The Agent who also want to make some gain out of the miscellaneous fee will spent hours or days bargaining creating a delay in the process. As a matter of fact, I must state that sometimes the process is fast, but the Agent may hold the document to delay the process to make the importer believe that he did a good job.
d. Some agents are so shrewd in their extortion to the extent that if they condone with the officials to use the last check point to extort money from importers. At this point they will tell you they have run out miscellaneous fee (bribe fee) and if the importer fails to give the Agent monies to bribe the port officials, they will connive with the officials to delay truck at the last gate. For example: they will intentionally make sure that they complete the process just before the closing time at the port and when the truck carrying your goods gets to the final check point they will tell you that they have run out of miscellaneous fee (bribe fee) and that they need money to pay the officials. If the importer fails to give out the money, they will leave the importer at the mercy of the corrupt officials. Unfortunately the system is set out in a way that the officials have no business with the importer and owes the importer no explanation for delaying detaining the truck. In their frustration the importers would go looking for the Agent only to be told that the officials have identify under invoicing/undeclared goods and they needed to be bribed. Since the importer does not want any further delay after three days of clearing just one container, he or she will give out the money. The bribe is paid, the truck is released, the importer and goods gets out of the port.
e. What is clear to the Agent, importer, CEPS officials, Port Security and Task force is that that container or truck, leaving the port has under invoiced and undeclared cargo. Undeclared cargo is an imported (taxable) good which was not listed on the Agent generated invoice. For example: the importer has two industrial sewing machines; computers, bicycles. The Agent and the importer for tax evasion purposes agree not to list it on the clearing invoice. This becomes another avenue for bribery and extortion through the creation of CEPS/police check points on our highways. Immediately after leaving the port you meet them at the Sakumono lagoon.
4. The hypocrisy:
a. The Assistant Commissioner of CEPS, Mr. John Vianney Kundamnuru, his Boss (the (Commissioner), the sector Minister and the importers should not deceive themselves and Ghanaians that they are not aware of these corrupted process at the port and play the blame game.
b. The setting up of the CEPS/police check points on our roads are mark of hypocrisy. If goods can leave the port under invoiced/undeclared, at the glaring watch of the Port security and Task Force, what is the need for the road checks? The road checks are just for extortion and to aid corrupt importers to evade tax.
5. Conclusion:
Mr. John Vianney Kundamnuru and his bosses including the Chief of Staff should give us a break and put up more importer friendly clearing process at the Pots and stop telling us corrupt practices at the port. What they should know is that delays at the ports are Agent/CEPS/GHPOHA official creation and corrupt importers accept it because it is to their benefit. The truth is that the complaint of the delays is from the innocent shipper of personal effects and few genuine importers. Majority of importer do not care about the delay. If by clearing my goods in three days through corrupt means enable me to evade about 50% of tax and maximize my profit why complain.

This is Unedited.
Moses 12 years ago

do you have any proof of your stupid statement?

do you have any proof of your stupid statement?

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90% of importers fake invoices - CEPS

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