A report by WhatsupNews, Ghana’s first solely digital newspaper has revealed the grant of an unfair special Dispensation to an alleged party Financier of the President to import large consignments of frozen food at ridiculously low port charges.
According to WhatsupNews, this unfair advantage has unfairly kept all other competitors almost out of business as government also loses out on massive amounts of cash through the waiver of port taxes and levies.
According to the report, while Ghanaian importers are virtually collapsing under the cut-throat taxes at Ghana’s ports on freight, transport, duties and other charges, Ms. Eunice Hinneh, an alleged close ally of President Akufo Addo and Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia, has been allowed to import frozen foods without paying charges and taxes on freight like everybody else.
Essentially, the discounts given to Ms. Hinneh, CEO of La Bianca means Ghana would be losing millions of dollars in duties and taxes that should have been charged her.
This is because La Bianca is the biggest frozen food importer in Ghana after the unfair advantage granted her at the ports since 2017 had virtually collapsed the businesses of other importers.
There are speculations from some critics that it is no coincidence that La Bianca’s is one of the biggest campaign financiers of the Akufo Addo campaign as she enjoys juicy exemptions at the port, coupled with her curious appointments to the Council of State and the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GHAPOHA) by President Akufo Addo.
WhatsupNews further reported that per a letter they sighted written by Ms. Hinneh to the Ghana Revenue Authority, she requested to be taxed at half the value of what she was expected to pay, and was indeed granted same by the GRA.
The GRA communicated this extra incentive to Ms. Hinneh’s company in a letter dated April 20, 2021, saying: “…The Commissioner of Customs Division would grant a markdown of 5% to 10% Benchmark values…” The GRA went ahead to list virtually all the variety of frozen foods she imports into the country.
All the incentives given La Bianca meansalmost 60% of the value of her imports would have somehow subsidised, making it possible for her to edge out all competitions.
Source: GhanaFeed.Com
