The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has begun a special operation to impound uncustomed vehicles in the bid to ensure vehicle owners comply with the authority’s tax policy.

The exercise which commenced on Monday, April 30 aims at seizing cars belonging to persons who have failed to pay the requisite import duties and taxes.

Briefing the press prior to the exercise, Commissioner-General of the GRA, Emmanuel Kofi Nti indicated that the authority’s break in operation after it impounded over 754 cars between January and December 2017 was to afford the public, the opportunity to rectify any deficiency they may be having with their vehicles.

“Report reaching the GRA indicates that there are many such uncustomed vehicles and trucks driving on our roads with impunity without payment of the requite import duties and other taxes on them, last year similar special exercise was carried and the statistics did not look good. Seven hundred and fifty four vehicles and trucks were impounded, therefore vehicles owner must contact Customs Offices for verification of the status of their vehicles.”

He also urged vehicle owners and all other prospective buyers to always contact Customs offices for verification of the status of vehicles they intend to purchase to avoid losing their cars.

Several cars impounded

The Ghana Revenue Authority seized several cars in Accra that failed to fulfil their duty and taxes obligations during the exercise dubbed “Anti-car smuggling operation”.

Customs officials who were deployed to garages, some major roads and various customs checkpoints throughout the country seized vehicles impounded vehicles with tempered chassis numbers.

Deputy Commissioner of Customs, Alhaji Iddrisu Seidu, who led the operation, explained that impounded vehicle owners have a 30-day ultimatum to pay the duties and penalties or risk losing their cars.

He said, “After 30 days, we convert the detention to seizure and there after we start processing it through ‘gazetting’ and other legal actions that may be taken to either auction it or any other way to dispose it off.”

Alhaji Iddrisu Seidu, also cautioned prospective vehicle buyers to ensure that they verify their vehicles from the Ghana Revenue Authority customs offices before making final payment to sellers.

“More than 90% of those we arrested are not aware that their vehicles were not customed because this thing is normally done by some crooks, they do it and sell it to them and by the time we arrest them, they may not even find the one who sold the car to you,” he said.

“That’s why we always urge that when you’re buying a car, immediately you arrive at a price you have all agreed, please contact the nearest custom office, we will look at both the car and then the documents,” he stressed.