Customs staff kick against removal of Col. Damoah

The Customs Staff Association (CSA) has said it is not in support of reports that the appointing authority is about to sack Rev. Dr. Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah and Col. Kwadwo Damoah (Rtd), Commissioner-General and Commissioner of Customs respectively.

The CSA, in a statement issued to the media and co-signed by its National Chairman, Ebenezer Bob- Eshun, Chairman and the National Secretary, G. Mah, said the Association throws its unflinching support behind Col. Damoah (Rtd) to continue as the Commissioner.

Below is the full statement:

RE: SHAKE-UP IMMINENT AT THE HIERARCHY OF GRA

The Management of the Customs Division and the Leadership of the Customs Staff Association have noted with consternation media reports making the rounds on some online platforms about an imminent shake-up at the hierarchy of the GRA aimed at replacing Rev. Dr. Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah and Col. Kwadwo Damoah (Rtd), Commissioner-General and Commissioner of Customs respectively.

The timing of these publications is particularly distractive and worrying as it coincides with the Management Retreat of the Customs Division in Kumasi aimed at strategizing and adopting measures to exceed this year’s annual revenue target of GHC20.6 billion. As a result, we wish to issue this release for the attention of the appointing authority and the general public to state as follows:

1. That, the Management of the Customs Division and the Leadership of the Customs Staff Association (CSA) have resolved to throw our unflinching support behind Col. Damoah (Rtd) to continue as the Commissioner, especially in these difficult periods when the country is in dire need of revenue.

2. That, Col. Kwadwo Damoah’s tenure as Commissioner has seen considerable improvement in the performance of the Customs Division and this has led to the achievement of the annual revenue targets from the year 2020 to date, with the Division exceeding its target for the year 2021.

3. That, the Investigative Report of the Office of the Special Prosecutor dated 3rd August, 2022 on Labianca Group of Companies in relation to Customs Valuation is misconceived and same is borne out of the misconception of Benchmark Values as a method of valuation rather than a risk management tool. This is inconsistent with the World Trade Organisation’s (WTO) Rules on Customs Valuation and Section 67 of the Custom1s Act, 20 15 (Act 89 1). We, therefore, contend that the use of a risk assessment tool like the Benchmark Values to draw such conclusions is technically flawed.

4. There’s therefore nothing wrong with the approvals made by the Commissioner since such approvals accord with the Customs Laws and established procedures m force.
5. That, considering the difficult economic situation currently facing the country, the Customs Division requires industrial harmony and consistency at its top hierarchy to deliver on its mandate of raising the much-needed revenue and to continue to secure the borders of the country in the face imminent threats of terrorism. This is because we cannot predict the reaction of the rank and file at any attempt to destabilize the Top Management of Customs at this crucial time.

6. Accordingly, we wish to strongly advise against any such attempt to remove the current Commissioner if indeed the media reports are true.

7. We are firmly committed to achieving and possibly exceeding this year’s annual revenue target.

May God continue to bless our Nation, Ghana and make it great and strong.

For and on behalf of CSA
G MAH
NATIONAL
SECRETARY

EBENEZER BOB-ESHUN
NATIONAL CHAIRMAN