The Labianca Company Limited has raised an objection to the Office of the Special Prosecutor’s (OSP) report on influence peddling issued against its Chief Executive.
The company claims that the OSP’s remark about its CEO is false and should be ignored.
The company in its statement denied the allegations saying “We deny that the company and its CEO, Mrs Asomah-Hinneh, procured customs advance ruling through influence peddling or trading of influence”.
“We take the findings of the Office of the Special Prosecutor seriously and have consequently instructed our lawyers to take the necessary action on this matter.”
Background
The OSP accused Ms Asomah-Hinneh of influence-peddling in an investigative report for allegedly using her position as a member of the Council of State and a member of the Board of Directors of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) to obtain a favourable decision from the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), resulting in a reduction in Labianca Limited’s tax liabilities.
The OSP also identified Joseph Adu Kyei, a Deputy Commissioner of Customs in charge of Operations, for issuing an unlawful customs advance ruling that reduced the benchmark values of frozen foods imported by Labianca Limited, thereby reducing the company’s tax obligations to the state.
“The OSP finds that there is strong evidence to suggest that Mr Kyei’s decision to issue a customs advance ruling for the applicant was procured through influence peddling or trading of influence by Ms Asomah-Hinneh by employing her position as a member of the Council of State and member of the Board of Directors of the GPHA, the report, signed by the Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, said.
The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) stated in a statement that it recovered GH1.074 million from Labianca Company Limited, which is owned by a member of the Council of State, Ms Eunice Jacqueline Buah Asomah-Hinneh.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
