General News of Thursday, 17 October 2019

Source: classfmonline.com

No more 'protocol', 'order-from-above' port goods clearance without my approval – Professor Adei

Board Chairman of the Ghana Revenue Authority, Prof Stephen Adei Board Chairman of the Ghana Revenue Authority, Prof Stephen Adei

The Board Chairman of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Prof Stephen Adei has warned staff of the Customs Division of the Authority to refer to him all so-called protocol goods meant for clearance at the country’s ports.

During a visit to the Customs Division, Tema Collection, at the Port of Tema together with the Director-General of the GRA and the Commissioner of Customs, Prof Adei warned the staff thus: “From today, if anybody says there is order from above, and you collaborate and you are caught, you will be sacked – immediately

“When there is order from above, refer that order from above to me”, he ordered, adding: “aIf they say: ‘It’s from the Operations Room [at the] Jubilee House’, say: ‘Stephen Adei says: ‘If you want to send directives from Operations, send it to him and the Commissioner to direct’”.

Prof Adei warned: “If anyone of you clears a chicken in the name of a fish for somebody, he may be the biggest person, but I will hold you responsible”.

As part of his ‘Stop The Leakage By The Few’ crusade, Prof Adei said he would provide a dedicated phone number through which whistleblowers, especially junior staff, can lodge complaints of leakages to avert victimisation.

He promised that about a quarter of the proceeds realised from reports of leakages would be used to reward the whistleblower.