The Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine, has disclosed that the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has confirmed that GH¢22 million in taxes was evaded in the District Roads Improvement Programme (DRIP) contract involving J.A. Plant Pool Limited.
Dr. Ayine said the GRA’s confirmation puts beyond doubt allegations of tax evasion linked to the DRIP arrangement.
He explained that although his office had earlier estimated the tax loss at GH¢38.7 million, it lacked the statutory mandate to make a final determination and therefore formally requested verification from the GRA in July 2025.
According to Dr. Ayine, the GRA only concluded its assessment last week, confirming that GH¢22 million in taxes had indeed been evaded, allowing his office to state the figure with certainty.
He further revealed that J.A. Plant Pool Limited had written to acknowledge that some items imported under the DRIP framework were warehoused after being cleared as tax-exempt, despite not qualifying for such exemptions.
Dr. Ayine stressed that the company’s admission does not absolve it of responsibility.
“Once goods are imported into the country without the payment of duties that should have been paid, tax evasion has occurred, regardless of any subsequent explanations,” he said.
The Attorney-General also disclosed that an alleged US$2 million overpayment associated with the DRIP contract has been identified and will be pursued separately, in addition to the confirmed GH¢22 million tax evasion.
He dismissed claims that the overpayment was the result of a clerical error, insisting the issue goes beyond an administrative lapse.
Dr. Ayine’s comments follow a statement issued last year by J.A. Plant Pool Limited, in which the company denied allegations of overpayment, tax evasion and over-invoicing in relation to the DRIP contract.
The firm attributed the US$2 million discrepancy to a clerical error and maintained that all imports were properly declared and processed through bonded warehouses.
However, Dr. Ayine reiterated that investigations have been conducted and that evidence exists to support the government’s position.
He said he stands by his earlier statements and indicated that legal action remains an option should the company fail to comply with directives arising from the findings.
The dispute continues to attract public attention as the government intensifies efforts to ensure accountability and recover funds linked to the DRIP programme.
