Anti-corruption campaigner, Vitus Azeem, has asked President Akufo-Addo to relieve the Council of State member of her position.
His comment comes on the heels after an amount of GH¢1.074 million was retrieved by the Office of the Special Prosecutor from the Labianca Company Limited, a frozen foods company, belonging to the member of the Council of State.
According to the investigative report, Madam Asomah-Hinneh used her position as a member of the Council of State and a member of the Board of Directors of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) to influence a favourable decision from the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), leading to a reduction in the tax liabilities of Labianca Limited.
This, according to the report, reduced the benchmark values of the goods imported by Labianca Limited, translating to reduced tax obligations of the company to the state.
Following the reports of corruption-related offences involving her and her company, Mr Azeem stated that if the President is really committed to the anti-corruption fight, steps should be taken to ensure that madam Asomah-Hinneh leaves her position.
“This Council of State member should have resigned by now. If the leadership, the President and his executive are determined to fight corruption, that should be the case,†Azeem told Accra-based Citi News.
He holds further that the President must conduct further investigations into the corruption report issued by the Office of the Special Prosecutor.
Titled: “Report of Investigation into Alleged Commission of Corruption and Corruption-Related Offences involving Labianca Group of Companies and the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority,†it implicated the Council of State member as using her position to get favourable tax exemption decisions.
“The Special Prosecutor, like the former one, is probably struggling to do his best, but I am not sure if he will be given the necessary cooperation and the necessary support [he will succeed],†Azeem added.