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Frozen Tax: JoyNews investigation exposes fraudulent frozen food companies at port
The Workers Union of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) at a durbar on July 24, 2019, criticised the political class.
They alleged that family relations and close associates of people with political power and influence were using their influences to clear goods at the ports without paying the required tax.
They argued that that phenomenon was contributing to the revenue shortfalls of the country.
The accusations by the staff of GRA struck a chord with the investigator. So on August 1, 2019, in a sting operation after the launch of Operation “collect, name, and shame,” a team from the Customs Staff Association and two other labour unions stormed the premises of Labianca Company Limited to examine the consignment declared in the name of Ajax Company Limited and White Stone Frozen Food limited.
The objective was to verify the contents of 72, forty-footer containers at their premises following a tipoff that the companies involved had given false information to customs officials.
After an hour’s search, the team found out that the frozen food companies had concealed boxes of chicken instead of Sardinella fish they had stated on their declaration forms.
On 30th July 2019, one of the frozen food companies, Ayax Company Limited, gave misleading information about the content of some twenty forty-footer containers.
In two separate shipments made on 26th of July, 2019 with declaration numbers 42019305804/0 and 4201305794/0, Ayax Company Limited paid a duty of GHc168,731.68, and GHc166,731.68 totaling GHc335,463.36. By virtue of the misclassification of the content of the containers, Ayax Company Limited ended up underpaying a tax of GHc377.232.2 to the state.
White Stone Frozen Foods Limited also declared to customs authorities as Sardinella fish instead of chicken, content of at least five forty-footer containers with varying declaration numbers heavily protected by armed men.
Documents sighted by JoyNews show that the container with commodity code 03035300, 03035400 with varying declaration numbers, paid a duty totaling GHS851,102.5 withholding GHc807,915.12 which should have gone to the state.
Ayax Company Limited and White Stone Frozen Foods Limited paid GHc1,019,834.18 instead of GHc2,204,147.32. So in as the documents show, in just a single shipment, the two companies put together failed to pay taxes amounting to GHS1,185,147.32 million.
In the heat of the moment during one of the days of the investigations at the Tema fishing harbor, my cover was blown at the premises of Labianca Company Limited by armed officers of the Ghana Police Service who were providing security there.
Together with an Associate of Labianca company limited, they cursed and threatened to assault me. Armed offices from the Customs staff association quickly shielded me and escorted me to a nearby vehicle to prevent what would have been a brutal assault.
After months of investigations, JoyNews uncovered that by virtue of the misdescription of content of containers, the companies involved in the entire operation collected, name, and shame, underpaid a tax amount of GHS4.6 million.
Following the revelation, JoyNews confronted a representative of Ayax Company Limited with documentary evidence to enquire why the company gave misleading information to the state. His explanation was that the shipping company is the one that committed the error by deploying a container with content other than what they had purchased.
Meanwhile, attempts to get a response from White Stone frozen food limited have not yielded the desired result.
Months of attempts to get a top hierarchy at GRA to comment on the findings of this investigation have so far proved futile.
A junior rank officer at Customs who spoke with me on the condition of anonymity said, “Persons with political backing are now doing it (deliberate misdescription of products) with brazen impunity. The difficulty we have is how the law is applied. Perpetrators are allowed to walk after paying the difference when they are caught…that for me is not deterrent enough because many of them get away with it.”
The Customs Act of 2015 is clear about what should happen to persons who fall foul of the provisions.
A person who “furnishes or causes to be furnished any information relating to any matter under this Act which the person knows to be false, commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of not less than two thousand five hundred penalty units and not more than seven thousand five hundred penalty units and any goods in respect of which the act was committed is liable to forfeiture to the State.”
Section 2 of the Customs Act 2015 also states that where the full amount of duties payable under subsection (1) is not paid, “the person in contravention shall incur a penalty of not more than three hundred percent of the amount not paid in addition to forfeiture of the goods where applicable; and (b) the person is liable on summary conviction to a fine of not more than two hundred percent of the value of goods in question or to a term of imprisonment of not more than five years or to both”.
A portion of this penalty was triggered when after our investigations customs officials presented documents and evidence of misdescription to the companies.
There was however no evidence of forfeiture of the goods.
According to Customs officials, leakages like the one uncovered in this investigation are among the drivers of the country’s failure to generate enough revenue at the ports, making government’s ambitious Ghana Beyond Aid agenda ever herculean.
Source: www.myjoyonline.com
The Ghana Tourism Development Company Limited (GTD) in collaboration with the Department of Organisation and Human Resource Management, University of Ghana Business School (UGBS) has marked the 2026 World Safety Day Celebration in Accra.
The event held on Tuesday, April 28, 2026 at the Cedi Conference Centre, Legon was under the theme “Good Psychosocial Working Environment: A Pathway to Thriving Workers and Strong Organizations.”
The day is observed globally to promote safe and healthy working conditions and to raise awareness about both physical and psychological risks at the workplace.
The event formed part of efforts by stakeholders to deepen national conversations on workplace safety, particularly the growing concern about psychosocial well being.
In his keynote address, the Minister for Labour, Jobs and Employment, Dr Abdul Rashid Hassan Pelpuo stressed that workers must not be treated as machines but as human beings with dignity, rights and families.
He explained that unsafe work environments marked by fear, harassment, intimidation and excessive pressure reduce productivity and weaken organisations.
He noted that although physical hazards such as faulty equipment and unsafe buildings remain a concern, psychological risks including excessive workload, bullying, job insecurity and toxic communication are equally dangerous and must be addressed.
According to him, psychological hazards are real, measurable and preventable, and should be treated with the same urgency as physical risks.
He maintained that safe and healthy working conditions are not a luxury but a fundamental right that supports productivity and social justice.
Dr Pelpuo further stated that the government remains committed to strengthening occupational safety and health systems, adding that worker wellbeing is a core responsibility of leadership and not a public relations issue.
He urged employers to create environments where dignity is protected, and workers are empowered to speak without fear.
The Dean of University of Ghana Business School, Prof Ernest Y Tweneboah Koduah noted that the school is committed to shaping a better world of work that is equitable, productive and sustainable.
He announced that the school has secured accreditation from the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission to introduce a programme in organisational health and safety.
He explained that gaps in workplace safety in Ghana are linked to weak enforcement, underreporting and limited professional training.
He added that the new programme will equip graduates with the skills to prioritise employee wellbeing as a key organisational responsibility.
Prof Tweneboah Koduah urged organisations to assess psychosocial risks, invest in human resource capacity and create environments where workers can openly discuss mental health concerns.
He emphasised that collaboration between academia and industry is essential to addressing workplace safety challenges.
Delivering remarks on behalf of the Vice Chancellor, the Registrar of the University of Ghana, Emelia Naa Kwantsua Agyei Mensah described the event as historic, noting that it is the first time the university is marking the global observance.
She explained that the focus on psychosocial wellbeing reflects current realities in the world of work.
She stated that employee health, including mental and emotional wellbeing, directly affects productivity, morale and institutional performance.
Mrs Agyei Mensah added that the university is committed to creating a safe and supportive environment for staff and students, beyond minimum legal requirements.
She called on leaders to reflect on the kind of workplaces they create and to prioritise the wellbeing of employees.
CEO of the GTDC, Prof Kobby on his part noted that its participation aligns with its commitment under the Riyadh Declaration, which calls on member states to improve infrastructure and public safety, as well as enhance services, transport, connectivity and accessibility.
He indicated that the company intends to use the platform to highlight Ghana’s readiness to implement the declaration, with a strong focus on worker safety and wellbeing as a foundation for sustainable tourism development.
The event brought together policymakers, academics, industry players and students to discuss strategies for improving workplace safety and promoting healthier work environments across the country.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The Ghana Armed Forces has confirmed that an escort convoy protecting civilians was attacked in Binduri in the Upper East Region, leaving three people dead.
In a press release issued on April 27, 2026, the military said the convoy, which was escorting about 140 civilians from Bawku to Bolgatanga, came under gunfire from unknown attackers.
It said the attackers shot at the convoy several times, killing three of the civilians being escorted and injuring one other person.
According to the statement, soldiers returned fire and were able to repel the attack. In the process, seven of the assailants were killed.
The military added that during a follow-up operation, weapons and ammunition were retrieved from a suspect who had taken refuge in a mosque.
The items included a G3 rifle, two loaded magazines, and additional rounds of ammunition.
It said ten other suspects have been arrested and are assisting with investigations.
The Ghana Armed Forces cautioned the public against engaging the military or any security agency during operations.
It extended condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and wished the injured person a speedy recovery.
By: Jacob Aggrey
