A severe rainstorm that swept through Accra on Tuesday, March 25, caused significant damage in multiple areas, leaving one person injured and various structures impacted.
A tree fell on a vehicle in front of the Kotobabi Police Station, sending the driver to the Police Hospital for treatment.
The individual is said to be receiving medical care, though there is no update on their condition.
At the A&C Mall in East Legon, the storm brought down a solar panel car park shed, damaging more than 50 vehicles.
The rainstorm also wreaked havoc at the Accra College of Education, where several buildings were affected. Part of a newly constructed washroom facility was damaged, and flooding in the dormitories led to students losing personal items.
Eric Kwasi Azong, the SRC President of Accra College of Education, shared his account of the damage
“We had some of the rain entering into some of the dormitories and then had to flood the dormitories which caused a lot of inconvenience to the students. As well as some of the roofs on some of the lecturers’ bungalows were taken off and then some carpenters are on site trying to fix the situation.”
Despite the extensive damage, there have been no fatalities reported. Authorities and repair teams are working to assess the full extent of the destruction and begin the necessary repairs.
Chief Executive Officer of Volkswagen Ghana, Jeffery Peprah, has noted that a total of 120,000 vehicles were imported into the country.
Out of this figure, 6,000 were new vehicles. He made this revelation while highlighting six local vehicle assembly companies’ competency to supply the country’s vehicle needs on Citi FM.
The six automobile assemblers registered under the Ghana Automotive Development Programme (GADP), including Volkswagen, Toyota, Rana Motors, Sinotruck, Japan Motors, and Kantanka, have urged the government to limit the importation of second-hand vehicles to boost the local industry.
“Out of the new 6,000, 4,700 were assembled locally and this is coming from six different automobile assembling companies,” Jeffery Peprah said.
According to him, the local vehicle assembly companies have 140,000 to 141,000 units that can be produced locally.
Mr. Peprah defended the pricing of locally assembled vehicles, stating that the price reflects the value of each purchase. He outlined several benefits that buyers of locally assembled vehicles would enjoy compared to purchasing imported second-hand vehicles.
“Looking at the pricing perspective at the moment, our new vehicles locally assembled are very competitive and as well as the things that come with them, especially you have a vehicle locally made with a five-year warrant, which is a very potential thing for the market here. Buyers have a warrant for servicing for five years and that is a big plus for the buyers”.
Mr. Peprah stated that implementing some restrictions on imports would incentivize local companies to expand their production capacities.
“If we are able to have a locally assembled product and with our capacities growing and once we have the numbers too growing, we will quickly move into more production phase where we will manufacture more products,” he added.
Around 4 p.m, police officers tried to stop the car at the corner of de la Roche and Rachel streets. The car ran away and damaged two police cars, but the police officers were not hurt.
The car kept running away and crashed into a tree in the park.
A 27-year-old man was taken into custody for driving under the influence of drugs, said Montreal police spokesperson Véronique Dubuc. He didn’t get hurt, but he went to the hospital just in case.
“The important thing is no one got hurt by this event,” Dubuc said.
Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has emphasized the importance of combating fiscal indiscipline to prevent macroeconomic instability.
During his address to the nation on Wednesday, February 7, 2024, he outlined a series of measures that his government would implement to achieve this goal.
Among these measures, Dr. Bawumia highlighted plans to amend the Fiscal Responsibility Act and collaborate with the private sector to finance projects. These steps aim to tighten government spending and promote fiscal discipline, ultimately safeguarding the country’s economic stability.
He noted that his government would stop purchasing vehicles and would rather lease them.
“The government will move towards leasing rather than purchasing vehicles, printing equipment, etc,” he said.
He noted that his administration will incentivize the private sector to build roads, schools, hostels, and houses for government to rent or lease to own.
He continued, “The demand for road construction is massive and this has historically placed a huge burden on the budget.”
“I believe that the private sector should finance the construction and maintenance of roads through PPP concession arrangements. Also, the government will move towards leasing rather than purchasing vehicles, printing equipment, etc. The private sector will have the responsibility for maintaining the equipment.”
“With this approach, the budget can save very significant outright cash expenditure annually from various items across different Ministries, Departments and Agencies. This policy will energise the private sector and create many jobs.”
In recent years, the Ghanaian government has committed itself to the development and restoration of fishing ports and landing sites in fourteen coastal communities, aiming to rejuvenate the fisheries sector and enhance citizens’ livelihoods.
These locations encompass Axim, Dixcove, Elmina, Winneba, Otuam, Moree, Mumford, Senya Breku, Gomoa Fetteh, Teshie, Osu, Jamestown, and Keta.
The government reports that a majority of these projects are nearing completion, with some reaching almost 100%.
To facilitate effective oversight and coordination of the coastal fishing ports and fish landing sites initiative, the Ministry of Transport has acquired and delivered 14 new Mitsubishi Pick-Ups to the metropolitan, municipal, and district assemblies overseeing these project sites.
During a handover ceremony in Accra, Deputy Minister of Transport Alhassan Tampuli urged the recipient administrations to utilize the vehicles prudently.
He reassured the public that all 14 projects would be operational by the end of the year.
“By and large, except for two or three we are 100% complete as far as all these landing beaches are concerned. There are some that we’ve notice some defects so we are asking the contractor and then the consultants to go back and rectify those ones. We are still within the defect liability period but generally we are done” he assured.
Amid the condolences and tributes following the passing of Dr. Grace Boadu, a recently surfaced video showcases the splendour of her Kumasi mansion, offering a glimpse into the affluent lifestyle she embraced.
The circulating footage on social media unveils a sprawling multi-story building in her neighborhood, surrounded by an expansive and meticulously tiled compound that radiates opulence.
The video captures the grandeur of Dr. Grace Boadu’s residence, featuring a fleet of luxurious vehicles, including a Range Rover, Land Cruiser, and other upscale saloon cars, underscoring the significant accomplishments she achieved in her lifetime.
As Ghanaians mourn the loss of this esteemed figure in alternative healthcare, the visual testament of her mansion serves as a touching reminder of the success she enjoyed during her remarkable journey.
In a recent address to artisans, auto workers, and traders at Techiman Magazine in the Bono Region, John Mahama, the 2024 presidential candidate for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), pledged to eliminate the ban on import of used vehicles.
Mahama emphasized the financial challenges faced by many Ghanaians in affording brand new vehicles manufactured in the country.
To address this, he proposed striking a balance by lifting the ban on used vehicle imports. Additionally, Mahama suggested that the government could contribute to the growth of the local auto industry by becoming a customer and purchasing some of the cars assembled brand new in Ghana.
“There are vehicle assembly plants owned by foreigners with the goal of assembling vehicle parts and selling brand-new cars to Ghanaians. The affordability of these new cars is a challenge for many Ghanaians; the government should play a role in addressing this issue by purchasing a significant portion of these locally assembled cars.” he said.
“Given the substantial demand for vehicles in the government sector, such a move could contribute to the profitability of these companies. Recognizing the financial constraints faced by ordinary Ghanaians in affording new cars, the NDC plans to eliminate the proposed ban on the importation of used vehicles,” John Dramani Mahama added.
To incentivize international companies like Volkswagen AG and Nissan Motor Co. to establish local plants in Ghana, the country has implemented a ban on the importation of cars older than 10 years. This regulatory measure, outlined in an act of parliament, also includes import-duty rebates for companies engaged in the local manufacturing or assembly of cars.
Automakers such as Volkswagen, Nissan, Toyota Motor Corp., Suzuki Motor Corp., and Renault SA have responded to this initiative by establishing local assembly operations in Ghana. The country aims to position itself as a prominent car-manufacturing hub for West Africa, a region boasting a population of over 380 million people.
Volkswagen and Nissan, in particular, are actively pursuing the African market, recognizing the potential for growth in a region where car loans are not readily available.
Did you know that number plates with green and red backgrounds hold special significance and are issued to specific groups of people? The yellow plates provided by the Drivers Vehicle and License Authority (DVLA) also target particular individuals.
In this article, GhanaWeb Business will list the various types of number plates and the categories of individuals authorized to use them.
Yellow Number Plate: Commercial vehicle drivers seeking to register their cars are issued a yellow number plate. This type of identification is commonly seen on taxis, trotros, and buses.
Green Number Plate: All vehicles with green number plates are government-owned. They serve as a means for security personnel to identify government officials and sometimes provide them with special treatment when necessary.
CD Plate: The designation “CD” stands for Corps Diplomatic. Cars bearing CD plates are primarily driven by foreign diplomats, such as ambassadors. Additionally, members of international organizations also use CD plates.
DV Plate: “DV” stands for Defective vehicle. Car owners who have not yet registered their vehicles are assigned DV plates. DV cars are intended for temporary use, with the DV designation valid for twelve calendar months and applicable to various vehicles at different times. Moreover, DV plates come with a logbook that should contain records of the vehicle’s movements and driver details, and this logbook must be carried at all times.
Black or White Background Number Plate: These number plates are used by private individuals. Private institutions, such as banks and schools, also employ this type of number plate.
Meanwhile, the DVLA has announced the commencement of an initiative to phase out all old driver’s license cards issued before September 2017 from the system. These outdated cards will be replaced with smart driver’s license cards. The exercise will be in effect from now until March 31, 2024, after which all old card driver’s licenses will be rendered invalid by the Authority.
The Department of Parks and Gardens’ Chief Horticultural Officer, Dr. Daniel Kingsford Adams, has stated that his organization needs roughly 2,000 new employees to become lively once more.
He explained the human resources dilemma as being caused by the staff’s impending retirement of 90% of the workforce over the next five years.
However, he pointed out that despite the department receiving ten new hires, the personnel size is still insufficient.
Among other challenges of the Department of Parks and Gardens, Dr Adams further stated that, “Since I took over last year, the ministry, through the effort of the sector minister, Dan Botwe, provided us with new vehicles, including two big trucks, a Landcruiser Prado, a tractor, two pickups and working machines. Other than that, the department had no vehicles.”
“We have also been provided with about 10 workers but we need a staff strength of about 2,000 to make the department vibrant once again,” he said.
The 1992 Constitution and Section 12 of PNDCL 327, which specifies the duties, are where the department derives its authority, according to a story in the Daily Graphic.
The department’s responsibility is to maintain the horticultural vegetation that lines the median and shoulders of all national roadways.
The South African government is attempting to crack down on the torching of vehicles on busy highways. 21 large trucks have been set on fire so far this week.
The arson occurs on the same day as the second anniversary of deadly countrywide riots that claimed more than 350 lives.
Despite similarities with the methods used, the government claims the lorry attacks are unrelated.
Investigators are closing up on 12 people who have been named as the instigators, according to Police Minister Bheki Cele.
“They’ve been identified by names, some of them by address and some of them by the cars they drive,” Mr Cele said on Wednesday.
Investigations are being conducted into a number of motives, including economic sabotage, robbery, and labor problems.
The police minister stated that soldiers had been sent to key locations where arson attacks had been recorded.
They constituted “economic sabotage,” according to President Cyril Ramaphosa, because the trucks were burned “on the main artery of our country.”
The arrest in 2021 was brought on by the arrest of former President Jacob Zuma for contempt of court, which fueled accusations that Zuma’s loyalists were attempting to topple South Africa’s fledgling democracy.
Founder and president of the policy think tank IMANI Centre for Policy and Education (Imani Africa), Franklin Cudjoe, expressed surprise over a tax deduction known as “Disinfection Fee” on imported vehicles and questioned when such a tax was introduced.
He bemoaned the fact that there are simply too many levies on imported cars.
“Ah. Where from this GHS disinfection tax of GH¢140 cedis on each imported vehicle? When was this announced? There are just too many taxes feeding on each vehicle imported,” he complained onsocial media.
According to Mr. Cudjoe, the tax, or disinfection fee, on a 2023 Toyota Land Cruiser SUV was GH 143.38. On each imported automobile, there are over twenty additional taxes paid.
To the dismay of those who import vehicles, the government has subsequently initiated the collection of the Disinfection Fee even though there hasn’t been a formal notice about it in the public realm.
Due to the numerous taxes and levies imposed on each imported vehicle, the price of vehicles has dramatically increased. Despite calls for a reduction in the amount of taxes, it seems as though more will be introduced.
In a statement delivered on behalf of Mr. Kwaku Ofori Asiamah, the Minister for Transport, it was acknowledged that the transport sector in Ghana remains a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, impeding the nation’s progress towards achieving the global goal of net-zero emissions by 2025.
The minister attributed this to the country’s reliance on fossil fuels, noting that the Driver Vehicle and Licensing Authority had registered a total of 3.2 million vehicles by the end of 2022.
According to the minister, approximately 72 percent of the registered vehicles were powered by petrol, 27 percent by diesel, and around one percent by Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG).
These remarks were made during the opening of the Bono Regional Consultative meeting on the Electric Vehicle Policy, which took place in Abesim near Sunyani.
The event was organized by the Ministry of Transport and attended by key stakeholders in the transport industry, including representatives from the National Road Safety Authority, Driver Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD), and other security services.
The Ministry, in collaboration with the Ministries of Energy and Finance, is conducting nationwide consultative meetings to gather input from key players in the transport industry for the development of the electric vehicle policy.
Mr. Asiamah expressed concern about the adverse effects of climate change and global warming, which are increasingly felt in various parts of the country, posing significant challenges to the environment and human life.
Therefore, the minister emphasized the need to transition from diesel and petrol-powered vehicles to electric vehicles.
Madam Justina Owusu-Banahene, the Bono Regional Minister, stressed the importance of phasing out old and outdated vehicles to position the country on track to achieve net-zero emissions by 2025.
She highlighted that carbon emissions from these vehicles, coupled with air pollution, contribute significantly to global warming, hindering the nation’s efforts to mitigate climate change.
Madam Owusu-Banahene further stated that the government is fully committed to removing old vehicles from the system and mentioned the establishment of vehicle assembling plants in the country as evidence of the government’s dedication to facilitate the transition to net-zero emissions.
These vehicle assembling plants are expected to make it more accessible for Ghanaians to purchase and use new vehicles.
On Wednesday, April 5, 2023, theNational Road Safety Authority(NRSA) and the Ghana Police Service will begin a coordinated operation to remove all abandoned automobiles from the nation’s highways.
According to the authority, the abandonment of vehicles on roads is an offense under Clause 21 of the Road Traffic Act, 2004 (Act 683) of the 1992 Constitution.
In a release sighted by GhanaWeb, the NRSA added that owners or caretakers of vehicles abandoned on roads will be liable to a “summary conviction to a fine of not more than two hundred and fifty penalty units or to a term of imprisonment of not less than twelve months or to both”.
“The Authority announces for the notice of all owners of motor vehiclesor trailers that with effect from 5th April 2023, the Authority, will liaise with the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service, to compulsorily remove or cause the removal of any broken-down motor vehicle or trailer left on a roadway or in a circumstance that poses danger, or that is likely to cause an accident or injury to any other person using the road, to a safer location and surcharge the owner or person in charge of the motor vehicle or trailer with the cost of removal and storage for immediate payment prior to release of the motor vehicle or trailer to the owner or person in charge in accordance with Regulation 102 (1) and(l0) of the Road Traffic Regulations, 2012 (L.I. 2180),” parts of the release read.
The authority, therefore, urged the public to take the needed steps to remove their abandoned vehicles from the road to avoid losing them or being fined.
With a capacity to produce more than 5,000 automobiles and pickup trucks per year, Volkswagen(VW) Ghana Limited has constructed a vehicle assembly factory in Tema Free Zone.
The new, more upscale Tema assembly facility will take the place of the old Accra site, which inaugurated in August 2020.
Mr Jeffery Oppong Peprah, Managing Director of VW Ghana, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency at the commissioning, said the company had so far spent about eight million Euros in establishing a branch of the Germany Company in Ghana.
Mr Peprah said having the plant in Tema was strategic as it provided them with space to expand, adding that their proximity to the Tema Port also gave them a great advantage in exporting to other countries within the sub-region.
He said VW was currently producing six of its brands in Ghana namely, T-Cross, Teramount, Tiguan, Amarock, Passat, and Polo, which he stated best fit the local market.
Touching on the quality of the cars assembled in Ghana, he gave the assurance that the products were the same as those manufactured in their other plants in South Africa and Germany.
He said the vehicles as part of standards checks, undergosuspension tests, and fuel quality tests, among others.
He indicated that even though the quality was the same, the prices were affordable due to the VAT-free incentive from the government to buyers of the locally assembled vehicles as well as the non-payment of import tax on the vehicles compared to the imported ones.
He commended the Government for the initiative on the automotive industry, as according to him, countries that have developed, used automobiles as a backbone, adding that theGovernment must speed up the implementation of the remaining parts of the automotive policy to ensure they receive the benefits of their investments.
Mr Peprah noted that the ban on the importation of used vehicles which have devastating effects on the environment and health was yet to be fully implemented by the Government.
He added that auto financing policies must also be rolled out to provide the needed support for potential buyers of locally assembled vehicles.
Mr Samuel Abu Jinapor, the caretaker Minister of Trade and Industry, and substantive Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, recalled that the establishment of the VW plant in Ghana was an offshoot from a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)which was signed between the Government of Ghana and German Chancellor when she visited Ghana in 2018.
Mr Jinapor said the government showed its commitment to the MOU through the Ghana Automotive Development Policy (GADP) which was approved by Cabinet, saying currently Ghana has six vehicle assembling plants producing nine brands of vehicles.
He reiterated that government knows the importance of the automotive industry to the growth of the economy and as a key strategic industry which provided skilled employment to the people, technology transfer, sustainable jobs, and local supply chain opportunities.
He said the Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development programme, which operates under his ministry was another initiative aimed at supporting the automotive industry and adding value to the country’s aluminium, bauxite and other minerals.
He gave the assurance that the automotive component manufacturing policy would be laid before Cabinet in a few days to provide the needed full support for the companies.
At least six vehicles reportedly crashed in an accident at Airport Hills, a suburb of Accra, on Thursday, October 19, 2022.
A viral video sighted by GhanaWeb showed the crashed vehicles, including a dump truck (articulated truck), a commercial transport (‘trotro’), and at least three private vehicles, including a KIA Picanto, scattered all over the Airport Hills road.
One of the witnesses could be heard saying in the video that at least six cars were involved in the accident.
“About six cars were involved in the accident. Some of the vehicles are over there,” he said in the Twi dialect.
In the video, the KIA Picanto was seen to have crashed into another private car.
The dump truck had also pushed a four-wheel drive off of the road. Parts of the ‘trotro’ were also completely dented.
Some people at the scene can also be seen crying even though there is no report of injuries or deaths.
Reports indicate that the accident happened because the brakes of the dump truck failed.
The Ghana Police Service is yet to comment on the accident.
Watch the video below:
JUST IN; Accident involving about 6 cars at Airport Hill. pic.twitter.com/3LqxGyfPrA
— SIKAOFFICIAL???? (@SIKAOFFICIAL1) October 19, 2022
Flood on Monday took over a new bridge being constructed around Kotonkarfei town in Kogi State on the Abuja-Lokoja Expressway, leaving many motorists and other road users stranded and in a difficult moment to navigate the busy road.
Commuters were held up for several hours, resulting in heavy traffic buildup that extended to Lokoja-Koton-Karfe road.
Many vehicles got trapped as there was no alternative route, Daily Trust reports.
Mallam Ahmadu, a driver who spent hours on the road, said there was apprehension among commuters.
Policemen, soldiers, and officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) as well as youth volunteers were drafted to the scene before orderliness was restored.
But an eyewitness said the gridlock on the Murtala Muhammadu Bridge in Jamata Community may take a longer period to clear as impatient motorists have taken over all the lanes of the highway, making it difficult for smooth traffic flow.
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) has introduced some five key digital appliances in its operations to ensure a regulated framework for an enhanced and a more effective supervision of drivers and vehicles.
They comprise the vehicle windscreen glasses tint meter, handbrake tester, hand-held tablet computer, tyre tread depth gauge and tyre air presser gauge.
Obuasi station is the first to take delivery of the hand-held tools, while all 32 district offices across the country are to receive the kits for effective operations.
The DVLA says the appliances will help detect approved tinted windscreens, test the brake efficiency of a vehicle, and get instant access to a driver’s particulars upon keying in their registration and certificate of competence numbers to establish the authenticity or otherwise.
In the past, most driver offenders were let off the hook because the authority lacked these standard gadgets to strengthen their checks on the road.
The Compliance and Enforcement Manager of DVLA, Richard Kwasi Eyiah, explained that “after all checks are carried out on a vehicle, an automated gadget instantly issues out a receipt to the driver to know the status of the car as to whether it passed the test or not”.
Field demonstration
The Appliance and Enforcement Unit of the DVLA, last Thursday (September 29), organised a brief demonstration of the tools to the media in Kumasi and later moved on to the streets to test their innovative kits on drivers and vehicles.
During the field demonstration, it was detected that some vehicles had issues, but no arrests were made.
However, the DVLA field officers urged the drivers to update their papers, as well as put their vehicles in shape in order not to fall foul of the law.
Enforcement
Mr Eyiah in a post-test run interview said the tools would be used effectively to ensure compliance on the roads to ensure maximum safety on the roads with only roadworthy vehicles.
“Road rules will only be obeyed if drivers are made aware that not obeying them would result in detection and unwanted outcomes such as fines or licence suspension or cancellation.
“With these gadgets, there will be no hiding place for recalcitrant drivers,” he emphasised.
Mr Eyiah used the opportunity to commend the government for resourcing the authority which had enabled it to play its role more efficiently.
A 55-year-old Kenkey Seller is in critical condition after an overspeeding driver crushed her at Mankessim in the Mfantseman Municipality of the Central Region.
An eye witness, Derick Barnes, a teacher, narrating how the incident happened in an interview with Kasapa News Yaw Boagyan said the victim was crossing the road at a time when several vehicles had stopped for school pupils to cross the road and from nowhere, the speeding vehicle overtook all the stationary vehicles and crushed her in the middle of the road.
The victim was rushed to the Mankessim Roman Catholic Hospital but transferred to Kolerbu Teaching due to the severity of her injury.
The Assemblyman for the Nkusukum Electoral Area, Mohammed Ekow Arthur attributed the frequent knocking down of pedestrians, notably school children to the lack of speed ramps on the road.
According to him, all attempts to get speed ramps erected on the road after several demonstrations and also petitioning the Mfantseman Municipal Assembly and the Ministry of Highways have proved futile.
Mohammed Ekow Arthur appealed to the Mfantseman Chief Executive Officer, Hon. Ike Lord Enu, the Member of Parliament for Mfantseman Hon. Ophelia Mensah Heyford, the Ministry of Roads and Highways to assist them to get speed ramps to curb the rampant knockdowns.
Deputy Chief of Staff, Emmanuel Adumua-Bossman, has asked the police to arrest and impound any vehicle embossed with Office of the President stickers.
This follows the arrest of a foreign national identified as Ghaadour Hishan-Hassaan. Hassaan was detained by the police at Accra Airport for driving a vehicle with an unauthorized sticker of the Office of the President on it.
In a text sent during Peace FM’s morning show ‘Kokrokoo’ Mr Bossman wrote: “Jubilee House and for that matter, the presidency does not give stickers to any official. We have a way of coding our vehicles which I shall not disclose for security reasons.
“Please in the name of the constitution’s letter, the police should arrest and impound any vehicle which bears any sticker purporting to be from the office of the President; no matter the status or office of the occupants of such vehicles,” Kwami Sefa Kayi, host of the programme, read the text.
The Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) is once again undergoing scrutiny by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).
This time, the focus is on some suspected corruption and corruption-related offences related to the auction sales of vehicles and other goods between 1 July 2016 and 15 August 2022.
The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has commenced investigation into the number of vehicles auctioned by the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) from July 1, 2016 to August 15, 2022.
In a statement dated August 22, 2022, the Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng revealed that the OSP has observed some suspected corruption and corruption-related offenses related to the auction sales of vehicles and other goods, thus its initiative.
As the OSP investigates the matter, the Commissioner of the Customs Division is to “immediately halt and discontinue all auction sales,” the statement noted.
The OSP commenced investigation on August 19, 2022, when it directed the Commissioner of the Customs Division to furnish the Office with some vital information needed before September 20, 2022.
In its directive, the OSP is requesting the following; “the particulars and clear description of all auctioned item, quality of all auctioned items, prices at which the items were auctioned, date of each auction sales” as well as “the full names, addresses, and telephone numbers of the successful bidders at all the auction sales.”
The Office of Special Prosecutor’s recent investigation comes a time when it has received black lash from some groups and citizens over its Labianca report.
On August 8, 2022, the OSP published an investigative report which revealed that Labianca Group of Companies, a frozen foods company owned by a member of the Council of State, Eunice Jacqueline Buah Asomah-Hinneh, evaded import duties in excess of ¢1.074 million.
The OSP contended that Ms Asomah-Hinneh used her position as a member of the Council of State and member of the Board of Directors of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) to get a favourable decision from the Customs Division.
The Customs Staff Association (CSA) in response said the approvals made by Commissioner of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Colonel Kwadwo Damoah to the Labianca Group of Companies were in accordance with the law, particularly “the Customs Laws and established procedures in force.â€
For this reason, the Association has described the investigative piece by the Office of the Special Prosecutor as one borne out of a misconception and, therefore, technically flawed.
On the matter, former Special Prosecutor, Martin Amidu, has also accused the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) of unconstitutionality, arguing that the investigative report and the directive for the payment of GHC1,074,627.15 do not form part of the mandate laid out for the OSP in the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2017 (Act 959).
Following the probe that cited Labianca Company Limitedfor corruption-related acts, the Special Prosecutor has also commenced a wider investigation into the issuance of customs advance rulings and markdowns of benchmark values between July 2017 and December 2021.
In a statement, the special prosecutor said the Commissioner of the Customs Division was expected to submit the particulars of all applications for customs advance ruling, applications for a markdown of benchmark values, applications for private rulings and class rulings pertaining to the application of customs law and the decision on each of the applications.
At least five vehicles were destroyed in a fire that broke out at a fuel station at Kaase, a suburb of Kumasi, Saturday dawn.
The Ghana National Fire and Rescue Services said the incident which occurred at the IBM fuel station was one of the major fires recorded in the Metropolis.
A fire in the engine compartment of a KIA Pregio with registration number AW 7233-14, parked at the premises of the fuel station appeared to have been the cause of the fire, the police said.
Firefighters who rushed to the scene following a distress call battled the inferno in about half-an-hour, witnesses told dailymailgh.com.
The heat from the fire also damaged the glasses of the office building of Adansi Rural Bank, witnesses said.
This brings the total number of fire incidents recorded in the region to 17 within the spate of 14 days.
A joint investigation has started to ascertain the cause of this latest incident, the police said.
