Informants Association set to expose GRA over Compensations

President of Informants Association of Ghana (IAG) has hinted of plans to address the media with an expose on the continuous refusal of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) to pay what is due them.

President of the Association who wants to remain anonymous for now, in an angry mode complained that himself and his members go through very tedious situations gathering information that eventually lead to arrests of unaccustomed goods across the country.

He explained that, the Customs Division of the GRA has some well positioned corrupt officials who see the works of the informants as threats and so would block them from receiving the informant awards due them.

He claimed that, some officers especially on the Eastern corridor have become smugglers themselves and continue to steal from the state, also, sometimes; they expose the identities of informants to smugglers.

He said that, some of these informants even though have helped in raising revenue for the state, have been left to go hungry in some cases, three years and counting.

He explained that, in some cases, the Customs Division of the GRA, sits on very reliable information that could lead to preventing smuggling along the frontiers.

“We are beginning to feel that this matter of prevention of smuggling on our borders is a scam since some of these people are so connected to the smugglers. They make our work so difficult, some even expose our identities to the smugglers” the Informants president stated. According to him, they are giving the top management of the GRA a two week deadline to resolve the issue or they go public with whatever information they have.

Not long ago, the Finance Ministry officially announced the appointments of a new leadership of the Ghana Revenue Authority with Ms. Julie Essiam as Commissioner-General. Mr. Edward Apenteng Gyamerah has been appointed as a Commissioner, Domestic Tax Revenue Division. Ms. Pearl Darko was also named Commissioner, Support Services Division with Brigadier General Ziblim Ayorrogo as Commissioner, Customs.

These new appointments are expected to strengthen the GRA and ensure that targets are met in an environment of professionalism, fairness, and exemplary client care.

Meanwhile there is tension building up among these informants who feels the new hierarchy of the GRA must ensure all informants’ awards are paid and identities of Association members protected.

Source: Alhaji Umarh – Accra