Contrary to claims by the Ministry of Finance that he “Enemies Of The State” video documentary by investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas, was an act of patriotism, it is emerging that the Ministry quietly awarded a juicy contract to the journalist with terms of reference which feeds into a quiet feud between that ministry and the Ministry of Trade over destination Inspection Companies.
Whilst details of the contract is not yet clear, high level government observers who woke up to the realization that the Ministry decided to sponsor what portrayed the entire Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) as corrupt, have viewed it as very unfortunate.
Key security observers say the sponsored hidden video investigation is a continuum of the feud between the two Ministries, who have taken entrenched positions on matters at the port. It is also as a move by the Finance Ministry to back a certain reform position being pushed in government.
According to sources within government, state institutions such as the security services and the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO), have for months been working on a much broader investigation but has received no logistical support from government and their officials are shocked to know that the Finance Minister had money to execute such a project.
Insiders say corruption at the port has become systemic and requires institutional reforms to stop it and not what they see as an attempt by the Ministry of Finance to humiliate the Service and all of its personnel as corrupt and inefficient.
“CEPS despite its shortcomings, has served this nation well; yes there may be some bad nuts within the service, just as there may be bad nuts at the Ministry of Finance and in the media; if we place a hidden camera at the Ministry of Finance and some media houses, you will find out worse things. Are we to conclude that the entire Ministry of Finance and the media are corrupt,” queried the source.
The source said if care is not taken, morale within the Customs Division will hit an all-time low, a situation which will eventually affect revenue mobilization.
Already, the source said the service is not happy that they have been brought under the GRA. The disaffection within the Customs Division, previously CEPS, is growing and the tactics adopted by the Ministry of Finance will only make matters worse.
Sources said the tactics being employed by the Ministry will only have a limited impact in dealing with the problems at the port.
“Beyond the public humiliation of the officials by this video, there is no use for it. It cannot be used as a basis for criminal prosecution. How can a whole minister of state sponsor the entrapment of public officials under his Ministry? Will he carry hidden cameras everyday at the port? He needs to fix this problem with a clear policy and not this ad hoc attitude.”
The sources also expressed worry that the Ministry allowed private people to carry cameras within a security zone and gave an unrestricted access to government electronic data, adding that two ladies linked to the investigative journalist’s work were arrested Carrying hidden cameras at a security installation.
The sources observed that the quest to increase revenue collection and introduce new ways of doing things is welcome but that should not be at the expense of institutions like Customs, which has served the nation well.
There is also raging controversy over the propriety of the state to sponsor the ‘Enemies of the State.’ The investigation, which involved capturing on film some officials of the Customs Division of the GRA, Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GHAPOHA), security agents, and others engaged in acts of corruption, exposed what was widely acknowledged to exist at the Port.
The controversy is about why the state would sponsor a journalist(s) to undertake such an exercise that it could easily have t asked one of its agencies to execute, when journalists are supposed to be working independently.
Malik Kweku Baako of The New Crusading Guide, even though has stated publicly that the investigation was state sponsored, would not mention which state agency was involved.
The documentary, which has since been aired on various television networks across the country, got the ire of President John Evans Atta Mills, who dashed to the Tema Port to scold Port officials, conceding though that there were many upright ones among them.
Finance Minister, Dr. Kwabena Duffour has given assurance that in addition to disciplinary action against the officials caught colluding with others to rob the state, they will also be handed over to the criminal investigative agencies for prosecution. The Finance Minster has already indicated that a committee was working on the issues unearthed and measures were already afoot to plug the holes exploited by corrupt officials.
He has said also that government would seek legal advice on reviewing the activities of GHAPOHA and the destination inspection companies. Dr. Duffour further appealed to the judiciary and the security agencies to lend his ministry the necessary support in dealing with culprits.
Already, even before the about 15 Customs officials caught on video are hauled before the law courts for trail, they risk summary dismissal in line with regulations governing their engagement.