In a major crackdown on petroleum tax evasion, the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), in collaboration with National Security, has intercepted a diesel diversion syndicate accused of defrauding the state of over GHC2.3 million in unpaid taxes.
Officials confirmed on Friday that 10 fuel trucks loaded with an estimated 540,000 litres of diesel were impounded after investigations revealed they were fraudulently diverted from designated export routes. The fuel, which should have exited the country under Ghana’s petroleum export regime, was instead illegally rerouted into the domestic market.
Sophisticated Tax Evasion Scheme
According to GRA Commissioner-General Anthony Kwasi Sarpong, the operation was uncovered through coordinated intelligence gathered by the Customs Preventive Unit and National Security.
“Based on intelligence, the team followed the trucks to the port as they were supposed to be export-bound. However, it was discovered that no vessel had been designated to receive the product,” Sarpong told reporters at a press briefing in Accra.
Further investigations revealed that tracking devices on the fuel trucks were deliberately deactivated after loading, enabling the operators to divert the fuel under the cover of darkness to private depots in the Kpone enclave, just outside the capital.
Forensic Audit Underway
The GRA has launched a full forensic audit into the operations of the Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) involved in the scandal. Sarpong issued a stern warning that any individuals or entities found culpable will face full legal prosecution.
“This Authority will not tolerate any act that seeks to defraud the state or undermine the integrity of our petroleum export regime,” he declared.
He added that the GRA, in partnership with the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) and National Security, has stepped up monitoring and enforcement mechanisms to clamp down on illicit fuel trade.
A Costly Problem for the State
Illegal fuel diversion and tax evasion remain a significant drain on Ghana’s economy. The GRA estimates that such activities cost the state millions of cedis annually in lost revenue — a figure that undermines efforts to shore up public finances during a critical period of economic recovery.
Government authorities have vowed to intensify scrutiny of petroleum transactions, particularly exports, to curb systemic abuses and safeguard the national revenue base.
