Vice Chairman of the Magazine Spare parts Association, Yaw Opare has bemoaned that the operations of custom officers, and task force is negatively affecting their toil as spare parts importers.

Mr. Opare elaborated how the national and regional task force extorts them in an interview on Sompa Fm’s Me Man Nti, narrating that whenever the task force accosts their goods, the victim is required to pay between ghc7,000 and ghc8,000 on the spot before the goods are released.

 “I cannot tell if the national and the regional taskforce are warring against us. Clearing our goods from the port is costly and there comes the taskforce who are using their intelligence to abuse us which I find appalling.” He told Nana Kwabena Kesse.

According to the Vice Chairman, a victim who doesn’t pay the amount is marched to Aboabo by the force, and subjected to pay a charge of ghc70,000 and ghc80,000 at the bank. He revealed that the force then opens the container and examine the goods to ascertain if it all falls within the guidelines with an assurance to the victim that the money will be refunded if they find nothing wrong with the goods. Mr. Opare laughed it off and declared they most definitely will find something wrong which means it is unlikely the ghc80,000 the victim paid will be refunded.

He commented on the harm the extortion of the taskforce has imposed on them, hinting he has downsized the number of his employees since he struggles to pay all of them.

“I had employed 15 people, but now I am left with two.  That is because there are no funds to pay them. After selling the goods I procure, I have a family to also cater for and everything is expensive nowadays.”

Mr. Yaw Opare expressed how disappointed he and the association are in the Ashanti regional Minister, Hon. Simon Osei-Mensah for his alleged nonchalance, accusing the minister of misplaced priorities. He lamented that they have been to his office on five different occasions, meeting his absence each time.

“It is the security coordinator who meets us every time. One day, we asked Omanhene to reach the regional minister on our behalf. He promised to meet us but never showed up. The minister is enjoying his position without worrying about his people’s concern.” He stated.

 Deputy secretary of the Magazine Spare parts Association, Kwabena Agyeman added that the ills in the society might cripple the business. He highlighted that importers and retailers have not spent their capital but they have no funds in their coffers either.

He said “Many people profit from our business. But It is only in Ghana that you buy a product at 5$ but pay a duty of 15$. It is fretting especially now that we owe our banks. The dollar has collapsed our businesses and the customs too are harassing us.”  He cried.

Mr. Agyeman divulged their next step which is to send a petition to Otumfour and request his intervention in their miserable situation.