Customs destroy unwholesome cigarettes

Tema, March 17, GNA - The Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), on Wednesday, destroyed 3,500 boxes of cigarettes, which did not meet market and health standards of the country.

The products, which were imported by Mr Peter Kofi Asuamah of Attakora Worldtrade Company from Canada, were valued at more than GH¢ 329.000

Mr Samuel Arthur, the Chief Revenue Collector in-charge of Investigations, told journalists at the Kpone Landfill Site, where the destruction took place, that GRA had no other option than to destroy the products after concluding a four-year investigation.

He said the GRA was alerted by the Industrial and Market Support System (IMSS), a fair trade investigative group, that although the importer had documented the products for Burkina Faso, it was destined for the Ghanaian Market.

According to him, the products did not also bear marks or inscriptions which spelt out the health warning, contents and other market and industrial specifications as required by law.

Mr Christopher Kuupiele, the Operations Manager, IMSS, said apart from the fact that the product did not meet the market and legal specifications; it had not been tested by the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA).

"If we allow such products to be consumed, we would not know what we are taking and the consequences thereof," he said.

Other agencies, which witnessed the destruction of the products were the Police and the Environmental Unit of Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA).

GNA