Josiah
The Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) recently disposed of seized tobacco products originating from Pulmakom in the Upper East region. These products were confiscated after illegally entering the country, avoiding taxes and thereby depriving the national revenue of essential funds.
In a joint effort with the military command and other security agencies, the Customs Division of the GRA assembled in Tamale for the disposal process. The seized tobacco, housed in numerous boxes initially stored in a warehouse in Pulmakom, Upper East Region, was identified and impounded due to its illicit entry and evasion of taxes.
Georgina Lamisi Tibanye, the Sector Commander of the Customs Division overseeing the Northern and North East Regions, shared insights in an interview with Citi News. She revealed that intelligence gathered on September 5th, 2023, led to the discovery of the warehouse. Subsequently, a task force was formed to address the situation.
Transporting the seized tobacco to the warehouse posed some challenges, including unsafe conditions on the ground and the risk of potential attacks. Consequently, a portion of the confiscated tobacco remains stored in the warehouse pending further action.
Tibanye further explained that although the perpetrators managed to evade capture upon the team’s arrival, ongoing investigations aim to bring them to justice soon. She highlighted the difficulty in apprehending individuals responsible for transporting illicit goods due to their negligence.
Regarding the economic impact, Tibanye disclosed significant tax losses amounting to GHC 7,951,238.39 incurred by GRA from the seized tobacco products. She underscored the broader issue of tax evasion, which results in billions of cedis lost nationally, emphasizing its adverse effects on the country’s financial health.
