The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has responded to a petition sent by a group of importers on September 29 to investigate an alleged unauthorised removal, transfer and disappearance of 28 containers at the Tema Port.

In the petition, the importers said the containers were at various stages of the clearance process when they were found to be empty, missing or had been moved from the port without the knowledge of their owners.

The petitioners said an official complaint had been lodged with the Tema Regional Police Command, leading to the arrest of some persons allegedly connected to the incident; consequently, they sought a thorough investigation to establish how the affected containers were removed or transferred and the circumstances surrounding their current status.

The list attached to the petition shows that the 28 containers contained a range of goods, including cyanide, condensed milk, sardines, alcohol, textiles, pharmaceuticals, black pepper and tomato paste.

Exactly nine (9) days after, GRA responded by establishing the facts through a constituted nine-member fact-finding and investigative committee headed by Commissioner of Customs, Aaron Kanor.

The panel comprises senior GRA officials drawn from the Authority’s legal, customs operations, post-clearance audit, preventive, investigations and information technology divisions.

The committee has been charged to ascertain the truth of the allegations and find the whereabouts of all 28 containers.

The committee is expected to scrutinise electronic records on the Integrated Customs Management System (ICUMS), including customs declarations, gazetting records and gate-out logs relating to the affected bills of lading.

It will also investigate whether established customs procedures were breached and determine if any GRA officials or persons outside the Authority played a role in the alleged incidents.

The panel will assess the financial implications of the incidents, including any revenue that may have been lost, and propose measures for recovering such funds where necessary.

Its mandate also covers allegations of possible cartel activity and claims that the identities of senior officials were invoked in facilitating the movement of the containers.

Mr Sarpong has instructed the committee to begin the investigation immediately and submit its report within 14 days.

Departments and other stakeholders at the Tema Collection have been directed to provide the committee with the necessary cooperation throughout the exercise.