ACCRA – The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) is calling on importers and the public to strictly adhere to tax laws and procedures to ensure efficient trade facilitation and optimize revenue for national development.

According to a new release by the Ghana News Agency, the agency’s statement comes in the wake of an online article headlined “GRA halts two helicopter ‘gifts’ to KNUST over taxes.” The statement elaborates on Section 75 of the Customs Act 2015, (Act 891), which allows for temporary admission of goods into the country without the payment of import duties or taxes. The GRA clarified that this procedure aims to facilitate international trade, minimize costs, and encourage temporary cross-border activities.

Under this regime, temporarily imported goods are expected to be re-exported within a designated timeframe, generally 90 days or another specified period if they are brought in for purposes like trade shows, exhibitions, or repairs. Initiation of the temporary admission process requires proper documentation, including a Customs declaration that outlines the goods’ intended use and expected re-exportation date. Failure to meet this deadline results in the payment of the previously ‘suspended’ import duties and taxes.

To safeguard against revenue loss, the Customs Division requires a form of guarantee or security, like an insurance bond or deposit. The statement noted that all countries, including Ghana, place restrictions on the types of goods that can be temporarily admitted and the purposes for which they can be used. Non-compliance with the terms of temporary admission can lead to sanctions such as fines or even forfeiture of the goods to the State.

Regarding the specific incident involving two helicopters temporarily imported by a mining firm in 2020, the GRA indicated that if the firm wishes to transfer ownership of the helicopters to the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), they must first pay the appropriate taxes and duties. The statement emphasized that such a measure is essential to prevent the abuse of the Temporary Admissions Regime by importers who apply for a waiver of duties but then donate the equipment as scrap to evade paying taxes.

The statement clarified that KNUST had not imported any equipment into the country and is therefore not liable for import duty or taxes.