Naagyei 90.3 Fm Agyapa
Labianca Company Limited has denied corruption-related charges leveled against it by the Office of the Special Prosecutor.
A Council of State member, Eunice Jacqueline Buah Asomah-Hinneh, who owns Labianca Company and is a former member of the Board of Directors of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, has been cited by the Special Prosecutor for infractions with respect to customs advance rulings in favour of her company.
But the Council of State member has maintained that it acts in accordance with due process when applying for customs advance rulings, adding she’s also been tax compliant “and has discharged all its obligations dutifully.”
Eunice Jacqueline Buah Asomah-Hinneh has been accused of influence peddling leading to a reduction in her company’s tax liabilities by the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority.
Meanwhile, she insisted on filing a lawsuit on the matter.
“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.”
Find below the full statement
OSP Report is at Variance with Events – Labianca Company Limited
Management of La Bianca Company Limited is saddened to learn of the recent publication of the alleged report by the Office of Special Prosecutor regarding the activities of the company and its subsequent discussions in the media.
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Although the Office of the Special Prosecutor has not written formally to the company on its findings as required by due process and fair “trial” rules, we believe that the report findings are at variance with our recollection of events and submissions made to the office.
We deny that the company and its Chief Executive Officer, 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.
Over the years, the company has, in accordance with due process, applied for customs advance rulings under the Customs Act 2015 (Act 891). Indeed, over the years, the company has been tax compliant and has discharged all its obligations dutifully. Due to the nature of the operations of importers like us, the Ghana Revenue Authority, per Act 891, conducts periodic post clearance audits to determine possible undervaluation or overpayments of taxes.
Consequently, the assumption of jurisdiction by the Office of the Special Prosecutor on such post clearance audit and our settlement of such taxes arising from such an audit is not synonymous with corruption and or corruption-related activities by the company. The several communications between the Office of the Special Prosecutor and the company confirm this.
As importers of quality frozen foods, we will always comply with the laws of Ghana.
We are committed to contributing our quota to national development by investing right in our cold store infrastructure, and value chain, creating jobs, and paying taxes.
