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Audio: Customs boss can't take himself out of Labianca saga - Martin Kpebu

By Ruth Esi Amfua Sekyi
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Private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu has accused the Commissioner of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Colonel Kwadwo Damoah, (RTD) of being 'ultimately responsible' for the unlawful customs advance ruling by his then Deputy Commissioner for Customs in charge of operations, Joseph Adu Kyei.

According to him, Adu Kyei reports to Damoah and it is the fault of the superior for not reading the reports submitted.

READ ALSO: You can't destroy me - Customs boss tells 'small boy' Special Prosecutor

He cited page 9, paragraph 4.31 of the report "The OSP finds that though Colonel (Rtd.) Damoah sought to distance himself from Mr. Adu Kyei’s decision during his interview on 16 February 2022, he gave his tacit approval to the decision and the determination stood to the benefit of the applicants. Indeed, Mr. Adu Kyei’s decision would not have passed muster but for Colonel (Rtd.) Damoah’s apparent approval. The half-hearted seeming recantation is unhappily belated and does not absolve Colonel (Rtd.) Damoah of ultimate responsibility for the apparently contrived decision"

"Speaking in an interview with Joy FM, he said: They are liable that's why they paid... Colonel Damoah was interviewed and he distanced himself trying to say Adu Kyei didn't do the right thing but he forget that he is ultimately responsible." 

"So the worst-case scenario, Damoah wasn't watching, he was sleeping on the job that his deputy was doing illegal things."

"Damoah cannot take himself out of this case it's just too late in the day."

Matin Kpebu elaborated saying he is not too keen on the prosecution of this case thus addressing the issue widely as being undertaken is the right procedure to go by as taking this root will at least recover some part of the money.

 

READ ALSO: Full report: How Special Prosecutor recovered GH¢1.074m from Council of State member's company Labianca

" Let go on the wider investigation. This also brings to the fall the matter of re-sourcing the special prosecutor. They have long asked for service so they can plug into the port which will enable them to see transactions independently."

According to him, there can be manipulations in manifest the Special Prosecutor takes from the Customs division.

"People can manipulate the manifest and invoices. But if you give the Special Prosecutor the resources in this case, they can monitor the transactions, then we will be saved." he said

READ ALSO: Council of State member Buah Asomah-Hinneh responds to Special Prosecutor's investigative report

Kpebu urged Ken Damoah to redraw the comment he made terming the Special Prosecutor of Ghana as a small boy. He said Damoah needs to accept his mistakes and apologies.

"He should do the right thing. We all make mistakes. We are all trying to contribute in building Ghana and in the process, things happens. He should redraw that comment and then come on the merit, take the report and answer point by point those that concern him so we can see what to make of his answers not the adhominem ones about age and conspiracy theory." Kpebu added.