Splinter Akpeteshie distiller groups causes loss of revenue

Techiman (B/A) Aug. 26, GNA - The government lost 90 million cedis in revenue within the past seven years due to the failure of splinter Akpeteshie distillers groups in Brong Ahafo to issue proper waybills. Mrs. Susana Amoako-Adom, Techiman Municipal Co-operative Distillers and Retailers Manager disclosed in Techiman at a meeting with Akpeteshie groups in Techiman, convened by the Ghana Co-Operative Distillers Union. She appealed to the government to enforce a high court decision that mandates the Ghana Co-Operative Distillers and Retailers Union as the only recognized body to issue waybills.

The Manager noted that under the sale of spirits by distillers, every distiller was to dispose of the product to registered co-operative placed under the control of the Excise Ordinance 1953 by the Ministry of Finance.

Mrs. Amoako-Adom said the issuance of waybills or Valued Added Tax (VAT) certificate by other splinter akpeteshie groups had resulted in the loss of revenue to the state and urged the government to enforce the 1953 excise ordinance.

Nana Amoah Ampofo, chairman of the Techiman Municipal branch of the Union asked the splinter groups not to obtain waybills from Internal Revenue Service (IRS) but through the Union.

He said the Union was collaborating with the Customs Excise and Preventive Services and the Police to check illegal waybills in addition to a spot fine of 20,000 cedis per tin of akpeteshie.

Mr. Isaac Gyetuah, Chairman of Independent Akpeteshie Distillers and Retailers Society, pledged to co-operative with the Ghana Distillers Union and other splinter groups to generate revenue.