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MOVELLE COMPANY LTD. VRS GHANA REVENUE AUTHORITY

Case

by (SGD.) SHEILA MINTA, J.

Jurisdiction

HIGH COURT

Judge

(SGD.) SHEILA MINTA, J.

Catalog Type

Case

Judgement Date

Oct 25, 2021

Summary

Ghana Revenue Authority auctioned forty one containers of frozen chicken and chicken parts imported by Movelle Company Ltd after the goods remained uncleared at the ports beyond the statutory period prescribed under PNDCL 330. Movelle Company Ltd claimed that the delay in clearing the goods was caused by a new government policy requiring import permits for poultry products before clearance from the ports. The company argued that the permits were introduced after purchase arrangements had already been made and that the permit process delayed clearance despite the goods remaining preserved in refrigerated containers. The Plaintiff contended that the Defendant unlawfully seized and auctioned the goods without complying with mandatory statutory and administrative customs procedures. It further claimed that the Defendant failed to account for the proceeds from the auction and thereby breached the Plaintiff’s property rights under Article 20 of the Constitution. The Plaintiff sought declarations, damages, refund of the value of the containers, and an order compelling the Defendant to account for the auction proceeds. The Defendant admitted seizing and auctioning the containers but argued that the goods were perishable and had overstayed at the ports beyond the legal four day clearance period. The Defendant maintained that under Sections 116 and 117 of PNDCL 330, it was entitled to auction perishable goods immediately without notice. It also argued that the Plaintiff failed to apply within 180 days for any balance from the auction proceeds and was therefore estopped from making such claims. The Court held that the seizure and auction of the goods were lawful because the Plaintiff failed to comply with customs clearance requirements and did not obtain the required permits before importation. However, the Court found that the Defendant failed to comply with its statutory duty to properly account for the auction proceeds as required under Section 117(3) of PNDCL 330. The Court noted that the Defendant produced no evidence showing how the proceeds were applied toward duties, charges, expenses, or whether any balance had been paid into the Consolidated Fund. The Court also found that the Defendant’s witness lacked personal knowledge of the auction process and could not state when the goods were auctioned or whether the sale was by public auction or allocation. The Court ruled that the Plaintiff was entitled to an account of the proceeds from the auction sale. Claims for damages and refund of the full value of the containers were dismissed because the Plaintiff’s own failure to comply with import permit requirements contributed to the situation. The Court ordered the Commissioner-General of the Defendant to account for the proceeds of the auction within one month. If the Defendant failed to do so, the Plaintiff would become entitled to the assessed value of the forty one containers, calculated at US$1,442,072.50 less statutory deductions. Costs of GH¢30,000 were awarded against the Defendant.

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