GRA Awarded Million Dollar Contract To Delisted UK Company-Sam George Reveals

The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) is alleged to have awarded a million-dollar contract to a delisted company in the United Kingdom, Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, Samuel Nartey George has revealed.

The lawmaker made the revelation during a public hearing where officials of the country’s revenue mobilisation body appeared before the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament to respond to queries raised by the Auditor General against the institution.

According to the MP who expressed serious concerns about the deal, the contract was awarded to one Safaritech, a registered firm in the UK but noted that the company has been allegedly delisted since 2016.

He also revealed that the current address of the company, Safaritech was found to be associated with a tailoring shop at Spintex in Accra-Ghana.

In questioning the GRA present, Mr Sam George highlighted the fact that the company was engaged in 2020 despite its delisting in 2016 and wondered what due diligence was conducted by the authority before entering into the contract.

Commissioner-General of GRA, Dr. Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah, who admitted he was prepared to provide detailed information on the MPs claim assured the committee that he would gather the necessary details and share with members at a latter date.

“Would it interest you if I told you that, according to our information, you engaged this company in 2020, despite it being delisted as a registered company in the UK since 2016?

They had displayed the UK as their base of registration. What due diligence did you carry out before engaging them?”

“….Well, that doesn’t change the fact that in 2016, this company was delisted. Moreover, you imposed a 773 million US dollar back tax on MTN Ghana Limited, designated as the best corporate taxpayer in Ghana, based on a Safaritech report that KPMG disputed.

What due diligence was carried out, and at what cost? Could you provide details of the consultancy that Safaritech conducted and its cost to the taxpayer?” Sam George quizzed.

In response, the GRA boss requested time to collect accurate information to provide a comprehensive response.

Mr Sam George further requested that the committee be furnished with the details of the cost associated with Safaritech’s engagement, shedding light on the nature of their involvement with a company currently operating from a tailoring shop.

The chairman of the committee, Dr James Klutse Avedzi subsequently instructed the authority to present the information required before the House within two weeks, indicating the seriousness with which the matter would be pursued.