The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has refuted reports alleging its auctioning of agrochemicals, fertilizers, and other inputs due to the Cocoa Marketing Company's (COCOBOD) failure to pay duties on the items.

The Authority dismissed these reports as misleading and urged the public to disregard them.

In a statement, the GRA clarified that the agrochemicals and other items in question were indeed imported into the country by COCOBOD.

However, it said they overstayed at the State Warehouse, resulting in their inclusion in the Uncleared Cargo List (UCL).

Subsequently, per legal requirements, these items were gazetted. Yet, given the essential nature of these agro products for COCOBOD's operations, they were not reallocated to another entity.

Therefore, although the containers were listed under UCL, the GRA carefully considered COCOBOD's request and reinstated ownership of the items to them.

Furthermore, the GRA emphasized that COCOBOD duly settled the necessary duties on the agrochemicals and thus, no auctioning of any products has taken place.

Read their statement below:

Management of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has sighted a publication in the Herald newspaper on “GRA auctioning COCOBOD’s chemicals, fertilizers, others” dated 2nd February 2024. The said article states that Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) is unable to pay import duties on some agrochemicals, fertilizers and implements to be used in enhancement of cocoa farming and this has led to an auction of these items by GRA resulting in dire implications to the cocoa season.

Management would like to use this opportunity to state that, this article is disingenuous and misleading and seeks to draw conclusions not founded on facts.

The facts are that in April and May 2023, some agrochemicals and other items were imported into the country by COCOBOD. These items overstayed at the State Warehouse and as a result, were sent to the Uncleared Cargo List (UCL).

Thereafter, the items were gazetted as the law demands. However, because the agro products are essential commodities needed for the effective running of the operations of COCOBOD, they were not allocated to a different entity. As such, although the containers were under UCL, GRA carefully considered the request from COCOBOD and the key role it plays in the economy of Ghana and restored the items to them.

COCOBOD has therefore paid the required duties on the agrochemicals. No agro product of COCOBOD has therefore been auctioned.

We, therefore, entreat the general public to disregard this false publication and to verify any such information before publication. We further state that GRA recognises the contribution of COCOBOD to the development of the country and will therefore not carry out any action that is detrimental to its operations while at the same time ensuring that the Tax laws are applied fairly.

Management of GRA wishes to assure the public that we are committed to our mandate of revenue mobilisation with integrity, fairness and professionalism.