Ahanta chiefs defend Labianca CEO; seek Akufo-Addo intervention

The Ahanta Traditional Council says it is dismayed at the continuous attempts to denigrate the hard-earned reputation of the Chief Executive Officer of the Labianca Company, Eunice Jacqueline Buah Asomah-Hinneh, despite palpable and incontrovertible evidence that she did not in any way influence the granting of import duty concessions to her company.

The Council is bemused that despite the open denial by the Commissioner of Customs, Colonel (rtd) Kwadwo Damoah, against any influence perpetrated by Madam Asomah-Hinneh on him for the import duty waiver, several media accounts continue to insist wrongdoing.

“It is also significant to state that Mr. Kyei, who is the Deputy Commissioner of Customs, has denied any influence on him by the member of the Council of State,” Chief of Ahanta Aboade Nana Etsin Kwofie, who spoke on behalf of Ahantahen Otumfuo Badu Bonso, said at a press conference.

Nana Etsin Kwofie stated that the Council views the granting of such concessions as part and parcel of any economic planning and development not only in Ghana but globally, helping to promote and sustain businesses, which act has not been championed only by the current government but past ones as well.

“It is also significant to point out that between 2015 and 2016 under the erstwhile NDC government the same company, Labianca benefitted from similar concessionary facilities as a company which imports over 120, 000 40-footer containers of frozen foods a month giving employment to over 500 Ghanaians.”

According to the him, there are other companies that are benefitting from around 12 percent tax rebate and, therefore, does not understand why that of the Labianca Company should warrant such attacks currently being witnessed

The Chief of Ahanta Aboade fears “this unfortunate attack on our member of the Council of State is a threat to business and investment from the private sector and on employment”.

“Madam Eunice Jacqueline Buah Asomah-Hinneh, who is a distinguished daughter and royal of Ahanta, is a law-abiding citizen who has spent many decades to build her business from the scratch under different governments. With her business establishments providing hundreds of people both in the and out of the Western region with decent, direct and indirect jobs. She has, over the years, played her part in the development of Ahanta and Ghana in all the roles that she has found herself in.”

Flanked by other Chiefs from Ahantaman, Nana Etsin Kwofie made a passionate appeal to the media to be circumspect in their reportage and also for the Special Prosecutor to be diligent in its quest to deliver justice.

“We are also appealing to the President of the Republic of Ghana, His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, to help stem the tide in this issue which has a potential to destroy a genuine Ghanaian business and a very productive and astute woman. We view this report as unhealthy for the promotion of investment by Ghanaians and more so on women entrepreneurship in Ghana.”

Source:3news.com