Harriet Thompson, the British High Commissioner to Ghana, has expressed concern over the idea that corruption is worsening in the country.
Madam Thompson expressed alarm about the situation in an interview with JoyNews’ The Probe.
“I was astonished to arrive in Ghana… at the level of feeling around corruption, and clearly the perception is growing worse in Ghana, which is incredibly concerning,” she explained.
According to her, the government should check the source of corruption opinions, adding that investigations should be done and the perpetrators held accountable.
“It was great to see for example the Office of the Special Prosecutor recently seizing the assets of a well-known company that is a great example of those institutions,” the High Commissioner cited the Labianca case.
According to her, the Office of the Special Prosecutor should be given more resources to carry out such activities.
She went on to say that institutions established to combat corruption in the country must be independent and fulfill their duties without fear or favor.
The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has charged a corporation owned by a member of the Council of State with influencing the conduct of its operations.
Eunice Jacqueline Buah Asomah-Hinneh, a council member, is also the owner and CEO of Labianca Company Limited, the firm under investigation by the OSP.
She is also a member of the Ghana Ports and Habours Authority’s Board of Directors (GPHA).
In the case, the Deputy Commissioner of Customs in Charge of Operations was also questioned in the custom advance ruling about some illegally reduced benchmark values.
As a result, the Office has collected GHC1.074 million from Labianca as part of the shortfall in import duties paid to the state by the frozen foods industry.
Source: MyJoyOnline.com
