Corrupt and Rogue Customs Officers Alongside Eastern Corridor, Tema Port Should Go – Graham Kofi Baldwin – Ghana Information On-line
A journalist, media supervisor, and sympathizer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Graham Kofi Baldwin, has vowed that corrupt customs officers in Ghana, significantly alongside the Eastern Corridor and at Tema Port, might be eliminated underneath the incoming authorities. Baldwin alleged that these officers are a part of a cartel answerable for diverting state income into non-public pockets underneath what he described as a “useless Akufo-Addo-Bawumia government.”
Speaking to the media in Accra over the weekend, Baldwin highlighted rampant corruption inside the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), significantly its Customs Division. He famous that the incoming administration should deal with these points head-on to revive accountability and rebuild the nationwide treasury, which he claims has been depleted by the present authorities.
Call for Accountability
Baldwin warned that the youth of Ghana are demanding accountability, significantly from tax collectors. “Young Ghanaians are angry and are calling for a system where taxes collected are properly accounted for. This is a non-negotiable demand,” he said.
He recounted his personal activism towards a controversial tax coverage launched by the Customs Division in 2019, which he described as a scheme benefiting politically linked people and sure Customs officers, particularly alongside the Eastern Corridor. According to Baldwin, this coverage led to huge under-declaration of products and tax income diversion, additional depriving the state of vital funds.
Despite preliminary resistance from the federal government and GRA, Baldwin’s persistent advocacy, together with authorized threats, led to the reversal of the coverage in June 2021. The reversal ensured that acceptable taxes have been paid on items getting into the nation, marking a victory for nationwide growth.
Exposing Corruption
Baldwin didn’t mince phrases in calling out particular instances of corruption inside the Customs Division. He alleged {that a} Customs officer stationed in Koforidua is closely concerned in corrupt practices, together with proudly owning a cargo clearing company and diverting enterprise to his non-public firm.
“Visit Koforidua and see the wealth amassed by this officer—his properties and fleet of cars are shocking. How can someone tasked with ensuring fair revenue collection instead use their position for personal gain?” he questioned angrily.
The Way Forward
The media knowledgeable pressured that rooting out corruption in income assortment might be a high precedence for the incoming authorities. He known as for a collective effort to wash the system, guaranteeing that tax revenues serve the pursuits of all Ghanaians, moderately than being siphoned off by just a few people.
“All hands must be on deck to ensure that revenue collection systems are cleaned, and corrupt officials are held accountable. It’s time for action, not just talk,” Baldwin concluded.
A Clean Slate for Ghana
As Ghana transitions to new management, Baldwin stays hopeful that the brand new administration will prioritize transparency, accountability, and equity in tax assortment. He pledged to proceed enjoying his half as a citizen to make sure that public sources are safeguarded for nationwide growth.
Source: Alhaji Umarh II || Accra, Ghana
