The Member of Parliament for Akyem Oda in the Eastern Region, Alexander Akwasi Acquah, has raised concerns over the government’s refusal to grant a tax waiver for equipment donated to support Ghana’s anti-corruption efforts.
In a statement shared online, the MP referenced comments by legal practitioner and media personality Sampson Lardi Ayenini, who reportedly described the Finance Ministry’s decision as “historic.”
According to Mr. Acquah, the equipment, provided by German partners at no cost, is intended for a forensic laboratory being constructed for the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).
However, the items remain stranded in Germany due to the imposition of import taxes by the authorities.
The former Deputy Minister for Health questioned the rationale behind taxing donated equipment meant to strengthen the country’s fight against corruption, which he noted continues to drain billions of dollars from the economy annually.
“The equipment is still sitting in Germany because Ghana wants taxes on it, even though the Germans are giving it to us for free to help the OSP fight corruption that takes away over $3 billion from our economy annually. Are we correct at all?” he asked.
The development has sparked debate over policy consistency and the government’s commitment to supporting key institutions such as the OSP, which plays a central role in investigating and prosecuting corruption-related offences.
Some observers have begun attributing the situation to the impasse between the Office of the OSP and the Attorney-General (AG), which centres on the OSP’s legal authority to independently initiate and conduct criminal prosecutions.
Others believe it could be a clandestine attempt by the government to undermine the Office of the OSP, thereby weakening its work and investigations.
The situation underscores broader concerns about bureaucratic bottlenecks and the need for clearer policy direction when it comes to international support for governance and accountability initiatives.
It remains to be seen whether the Finance Ministry will reconsider its position and facilitate the release of the equipment to accelerate the operationalisation of the OSP’s forensic capabilities.
By 1960news.com
