[ 2016-09-05 ]

GRA clamps down on fuel smuggling into and out of Ghana
The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has issued new
guidelines aimed at checking the rising incidence
of fuel smuggling from Ghana.

The new guidelines which took effect last week
Thursday, September 1, is intended to end the
abuse of the export and re-exports regimes of the
industry.

According to the GRA, any deviations from the new
guidelines would constitute prima facia evidence
of an attempt to breach Customs Control and would
lead to perpetuators being penalized in line with
existing legislation.

Under the new directive, all traders who are
engaged in the petroleum product export and
re-export are required to abide by the guidelines
for the documentation and removal of their
respective consignments from the loading bay.

Government is losing huge revenue due to the
increasing number of smuggling incidents in the
industry, but according to the GRA the new
guidelines will end the increasing revenue loses.

To reinforce the move, all exporters from the 1st
of September 2016, are expected to obtain an
export license from the National Petroleum
Authority in order to be allowed to lift petroleum
products for export/re-export from Ghana.

They are also to apply to the Commissioner-General
of the GRA for an estimate of the bond sum which
shall include the type of products and
corresponding quantities intended for
export/re-export over a ninety day period which
will include the country of export destination.

An applicant shall also contact an insurance
company to issue the bond and submit the bond to
the Commissioner-General for authentication which
will be submitted to the Assistant Commissioner of
Customs, Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) to commence
loading.

According to the GRA, its Customs division will
seal the loaded Bulk Road Vehicles (BRV) after
loading and where an external agency has been
contracted to seal the loaded trucks, customs
seals shall be added.

Drivers of the BRVs shall sign an undertaking with
Customs before dispatch as each BRV carrying part
of the consignment shall report to all the Customs
checkpoints along the route for routine checks to
be conducted.

At any checkpoint, a checking officer shall record
his/her findings on the Ghana Customs Management
System (GCMS) or, where there is no GCMS
workstation, a Customs Register has been designed
for the purpose.

Meanwhile the GRA says the guidelines are for
strict enforcement and says any implementation
difficulties should be addressed to the office of
the Commissioner General of the GRA.

Source - citibsinessnews.com

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