A former national security operative at the Tema Harbour has told the Enquirer that attempts by the government to sack those caught red handed collecting bribes in the video captured by investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas may lead to more revelations.
He stated that the idea to fire them will force them to name top officials who are behind the corrupt deals at the port.
According to him, top government officials are aware of the rot going on at the port, but have kept mute because they are beneficiaries of the whole saga.
He told the Enquirer newspaper: “The suspects may link other top CEPS officials and even government officials who are aware of the rot but have kept mute because they also benefit from the deal.” He added however that attempts to sack the officials are in the right direction since it will lead to more revelations and help curb the situation.
The source stressed that the government should investigate the matter to a logical conclusion.
Speaking in an interview over the weekend, the former national security operative, who wants to remain anonymous, said what the investigation journalist captured is just the tip of the iceberg and that there is a ‘mafia network’ involving various companies operating at the port.
The source said the corruption that takes place at the port is a grand scheme which is well knitted and that if the government is not careful its revenue base will collapse and the consequences will be disastrous.
He said the whole saga is a ploy by greedy Customs Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) officials and some elements of the opposition to stampede the government.
Meanwhile information gathered indicates that fear and panic have gripped officials of CEPS and security officials at the Tema Harbour, following the President’s threat to fire and transfer some of them.
Apart from 15 officers who have been arrested after they were caught red handed collecting bribes in the video, indications are that many officials would be transferred while some will be sacked.
Last Friday, President John Evans Atta Mills swiftly stormed the Tema Harbour offices of the CEPS and in an uncompromising manner and told officials that he is not happy about their corrupt attitude.
“… Everyday we hear reports about malpractices; people colleting bribes with careless abandon…” he said.
He expressed his repugnance at the manner CEPS officials, as a matter of rule and not the exception, have been building houses and buying cars just three years after being employed.
President Mills also took a swipe at the judiciary for not prosecuting some 14 CEPS officials who were indicted by a similar investigation by Anas for aiding and abetting the smuggling of Ghana’s cocoa. He said he is not going to be party to a ploy whose aim is to destroy an institution we are all building.