The 2023 Auditor General Report has disclosed that 44 Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) owe the Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation Company (BOST) a total of GH¢59.525 million in margin levies as of December 31, 2022.
The report recommends that BOST management take immediate steps, including legal action, to recover the outstanding amount and provide evidence of recovery to the audit team for verification.
In a separate finding, the report revealed irregularities in procurement transactions, where BOST procured goods and services worth GH¢886,771 from five different suppliers/service providers using Tax Clearance Certificates (TCCs) with identical serial numbers. These certificates were issued from four different Taxpayer Service Centres, all bearing the same serial number but with different issuing dates.
The Auditor General has advised BOST management to investigate this irregularity and report any companies found culpable to the Public Procurement Authority and the Ghana Revenue Authority. The report further recommends applying sanctions under Section 92 of the Public Procurement Act, 2003 (Act 663), as amended, to the officers whose negligence led to this infraction.
Additionally, the report noted that BOST paid GH¢1,049 million for goods and services, including a VAT component of GH¢146,799. However, it was found that the VAT invoices for these transactions were all issued from the same VAT invoice booklet.
The Auditor General has recommended that BOST management ensure that the suppliers/service providers provide evidence of VAT payment amounting to GH¢146,799 to the Ghana Revenue Authority. If the suppliers fail to do so, the amount should be recovered from them and paid to the GRA.