Power play and power struggle is now the order of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) between the Auctions Department and Customs Department.
This has created tension between these departments of which some staff and operations are being affected.
Insiders told this paper that the Director of Auction, Mr. Kwesi Avemee and the Commissioner of Customs, Mr. Kenneth Lamptey are the in the controversy who should handle the vehicle auction chits.
The report says Mr. Lamptey used to sign the chits but Mr. Avemee has been brought into by the current government to take over but Mr. Lamptey is allegedly preventing Mr. Avemee from performing his duties.
The staff alleged that in the history of the GRA, no Commissioner of Customs has handled chits for auction good except Mr. Lamptey who has decided to keep the chits.
“From these Commissioners, Dr. Isaac Crentil, Alhaji Iddrisu Iddisah Seidu, then to Col. Kwadwo Damoah, no one has ever handled chits for auction goods. They are handled by the Director of Aunctions” the staff alleged.
But Brigadier General Glover Ashong Annan who was recently appointed by President John Mahama as the new Commissioner of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority has ordered that the chits be sent to him due to the power struggle.
This, according to the staff, brings the reputation of the Commissioner of the Customs Division into disrepute since such position is above the Director of Auction.
The staff are calling for urgent intervention to return the chits to the appropriate department of the GRA.