Takoradi Port Corruption Will Make Prez Mills Turn In His Grave - Group

A group calling itself Concerned Customs and Takoradi Port Workers is calling on President John Mahama to institute investigations into the circumstances leading to the reassignment and promotion of a senior customs officer fingered for wrong-doing. The group in an open letter to the President, a copy of which was sent to the Daily Graphic, said the senior officer was previously in charge of a sensitive post and colluded with others to under value or wrongly label imports and thus cost the nation thousands of cedis in revenue. And while his collaborators who were employees of private firms have, after investigations by the said firms, been dismissed the state has rather found it proper to reassign the man and top it up with a promotion. According to the group, but for the vigilance of other senior customs officers who refused to be bribed, the said officer in July this year would have succeeded in his attempt to pass off an expensive import as chicken in order to evade tax. That story was published on July 19, 2013. �Mr President, we want to let you know that we know other people working with customs inside the port who have vital facts and information on these fraudulent deals which will make our beloved late President, Prof. John Atta-Mills to turn in his grave. �Sir, what is more disheartening and sad about the situation is that, instead of the customs administration in Accra to conduct deeper investigation into the Daily Graphic�s reports which were true, we understand the said officer was rather allowed to take his annual leave and rewarded on his resumption.� According to the concerned group, the President would be saving the state from further revenue losses if he causes an investigation into the deals at the Takoradi Port, while on the other hand, a failure would demotivate the group from diligent work. �We are asking and pleading with you, Mr President to put in place an investigation committee so that whatever facts we have will be given to them to save this country. �We want to say that we will not rest until these criminal elements in uniform and constantly denting the image of the noble Customs unit of the Ghana Revenue Authority are brought to book,� the group said in their letter.