Chinese company in ‘hide and seek’ with GRA over tax

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Chinese conglomerate Sunda International is facing mounting allegations of tax evasion, producing substandard products, and violating Ghanaian laws, all while allegedly bribing customs and immigration officials to turn a blind eye to their illicit activities.

Sunda, registered in Ghana as an importer and manufacturer of ceramics and sanitary ware, is accused of expanding into the production of baby diapers, washing powder, and chemicals without the required accreditation.

Despite repeated warnings from the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) to cease these unlicensed operations, the company allegedly continues to defy regulations, raising concerns over the safety of Ghanaian consumers.

The scandal extends beyond illegal manufacturing. Sunda is also accused of allegedly evading taxes on over 200 containers of goods it imports monthly through the Tema and Takoradi ports.

According to whistleblowers, the company reportedly pays only a fraction of the required fees, leading to significant losses for the country’s economy.

Whistleblowers alleged that officials from the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Customs, and the Ghana Immigration Service are complicit in this scheme.

These officials are said to have allegedly accepted bribes, including ceramic tiles and other incentives, in exchange for facilitating Sunda’s underreporting of imports and allowing substandard goods to bypass inspections.

The implications of such corruption are significant. Insiders claim this level of collusion is an open secret, with Sunda’s influence reportedly extending deep into local authorities.

As a result, Ghana’s economy is believed to be losing millions of cedis, and consumers may be exposed to unsafe products from Sunda’s unauthorized manufacturing operations.

The Ghana Standards Authority has issued multiple warnings to Sunda, demanding they halt production of goods outside their licensed portfolio of ceramics and sanitary ware.

However, these warnings have reportedly gone unheeded, with Sunda continuing to operate as if it’s above the law.

The ongoing revelations highlight the alarming extent of corruption at Ghana’s ports.

Officials tasked with enforcing product standards and collecting taxes are accused of accepting bribes in exchange for allowing Sunda’s questionable imports to enter the market without proper oversight.

The potential harm to public safety and Ghana’s economy is severe.

Amid these accusations, there is growing pressure on the Ghanaian government to investigate Sunda International’s operations and hold accountable any officials found to be involved in the alleged corruption scheme

The scale of the alleged fraud could have devastating consequences for the country’s already fragile economy, and public trust in regulatory authorities is at risk.

The Ghana Standards Authority has taken steps to curb Sunda’s illegal manufacturing activities, but for many, this is seen as just the beginning.

The public is demanding a more comprehensive investigation to expose the full extent of the wrongdoing. With tax evasion, substandard products, and bribery allegations swirling.