Reports claiming that the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) is auctioning off certain agrochemicals, fertilizers, and other inputs because COCOBOD is unable to pay duties on them have been refuted.
GRA called these reports deceptive and dishonest. Ghanaians were advised to ignore the report.
According to a statement from GRA, “COCOBOD imported certain agrochemicals and other items into the country.” These goods were placed on the Uncleared Cargo List (UCL) because they were kept longer than necessary at the State Warehouse. The items were then gazetted in accordance with the law. Nonetheless, the agricultural products were not assigned to a separate organization since they are necessary goods for COCOBOD’s operations to function effectively.
As a result, GRA carefully considered COCOBOD’s request and the important role it plays in Ghana’s economy, even though the containers were under UCL, and returned the items to them.
COCOBOD “paid the required duties on the agrochemicals,” according to the Ghana Revenue Authority, and as a result, no products have been put up for auction.
Here is the entire statement from the GRA.
Management of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has sighted a publication in the Herald newspaper on “GRA auctioning COCOBOD’s chemicals, fertilizers, others” dated 2nd February 2024. The said article states that Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) is unable to pay import duties on some agrochemicals, fertilizers and implements to be used in enhancement of cocoa farming and this has led to an auction of these items by GRA resulting in dire implications to the cocoa season.
Management would like to use this opportunity to state that, this article is disingenuous and misleading and seeks to draw conclusions not founded on facts.
The facts are that in April and May 2023, some agrochemicals and other items were imported into the country by COCOBOD. These items overstayed at the State Warehouse and as a result were sent to the Uncleared Cargo List (UCL). Thereafter, the items were gazetted as the law demands. However, because the agro products are essential commodities needed for effective running of the operations of COCOBOD, they were not allocated to a different entity. As such, although the containers were under UCL, GRA carefully considered the request from COCOBOD and the key role it plays in the economy of Ghana and restored the items to them.
COCOBOD has therefore paid the required duties on the agro chemicals. No agro product of COCOBOD has therefore been auctioned.
We therefore entreat the general public to disregard this false publication and to verify any such information before publication. We further state that GRA recognizes the contribution of COCOBOD to the development of the country and will therefore not carry out any action that is detrimental to its operations while at the same time ensuring that the Tax laws are applied fairly.
Management of GRA wishes to assure the public that we are committed to our mandate of revenue mobilization with integrity, fairness and professionalism.
