Commissioner General of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), George Blankson, says the tax revenue collector has, since 2010 paid Ghc75 million and not Ghc144 million to IT firm Subah InfoSolutions, for its telecommunication traffic monitoring services.

Besides monitoring the quantity of calls and data trafficking through the mobile telecommunication networks, the contract awarded Subah was also to ensure that the service providers charged the correct rates and taxes on the quantity of calls transmitted through their systems.

The monitoring system was meant to make sure the telcos do not under-declare their revenue obligation – payment of the Communications Service Tax (CST) – to the GRA.

Blankson however told various media on Monday that although the various networks refused Subah the right to directly plug into their systems to monitor the quantity of calls that originate and terminate through their systems, the IT firm nonetheless has been able, since 2010 when it was contracted, to carry out the verification bit of the contract.

He therefore refuted arguments that Subah was paid for doing nothing.

Subah InfoSolutions, according to the Chronicle Newspaper, received Ghc144 million as payment from the GRA, even though, according to the paper, the company rendered absolutely no services to the revenue collecting organisation.

Blankson, however clarifies that his checks with GRA’s accounts shows that about Ghc75m rather than Ghc144m was paid to Subah.

The sum was allegedly funneled into Subah’s coffers through Stanbic Bank Account number 0140002687401 by the GRA and was in turn, disbursed to a litany of companies, including C.A Nzema Oil, Local Enterprises and skills Development Programme (LESDEP); China-based ZTE and the Road Safety Management Services (RSMS).

C.A Nzema Oil - incorporated in 2011 - a subsidiary of the Jospong Group; owners of private waste management company, Zoomlion, received a total of Ghc1.9 million. LESDEP, a public-private partnership under the Local Government and Rural Development ministry received two separate payments captured in its accounts as “loan repayments” of Ghc 2 million in January and December 2012.

Similarly, China-based ZTE received Ghc200,000 for certain services. Subah also paid the Jospong group Ghc5.8million. The Group’s CEO is also reported to have received various payments between 2011 and last year. The Road Safety Management Services (RSMS), also a Jospong subsidiary received a total of Ghc4, 06 million.

The Ghana Police Service also benefitted from some payments from Subah. Information and Media Relations Minister Maham Ayariga Saturday said the Government will investigate the matter to determine whether the purported services were necessary, and if so, rendered.

“…Let’s go and look at the whole technology and see whether you need a monitoring mechanism to ascertain exactly how much the telecos owe”, he noted.