The Managing Director of the La Bianca Company Limited, Etse Gadegbeku, has denied the allegations of tax evasion on import duties and its associated revenue loss to the State, levelled against his company.
A Ghanaian citizen Fred Asare has petitioned the Special Prosecutor to probe the company over allegations of tax evasion.
But speaking to Accra based Asaase radio, Etse Gadegbeku, the petition against the company is part of a plot by their competitors to play dirty as the yuletide approaches.
“We operate in a highly competitive environment and I strongly believe these are bad tactics by our competitors to smear the image of the company and the CEO Hon. Eunice Buah Asomah Hinneh, to gain advantage for the upcoming busy Christmas season. This is the latest move after all attempts by them had failed.” Gadegbeku said.
“We strongly deny the allegation of corruption and import duties evasion. Labianca company went through all the legal and proper application process before the discount was given. The substance of their petition does not deny the practice of applying for discount and failed to address the valuable contributions that the company is making to the society as an indigenous Ghanaian business led by a woman”.
“Hon. Eunice Buah, the CEO of the company did not at any point in the process, influence the decision because of her status as a Council of State representative” he added.
Fred Asare in his petition alleged that “La Bianca Company Limited purportedly applied to the Commissioner, Custom Division, on 21st October, 2021 for consideration on custom import values for certain products it had imported into the country”.
“Pursuant to the said application, the Deputy Commissioner, Operations, Custom Division, by a letter dated 26th October, 2021 purportedly granted a 10% mark down of the approved benchmark values for imported frozen foods from 26th October, 2021 to 31st December, 2021”.
“In the said letter, the Deputy Commissioner, Operations, Custom Division, cited section 12 of the Customs Act, 2015 (Act 891) as the basis of the discount of the 10% markdown he granted the company” Fred Asare stated in his petition.
“The Complainant, Fred Asare further claims in his petition that “Section 12 of the Customs Act, 2015 (Act 891) deals with the subject matter of “Advance Ruling” and does not support the grant of 10%-mark down given to the company by customs given the nature and content of the application in issue”.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
