“You Voted Foolishly for NPP In 2016” – CEPS Officials to Kumasi Traders

Executives of Kumasi Central Market Importers Association have made claims that some officials of the Customs Excise and Preventive Service CEPS are harassing them in their business due to the political support they offered NPP during 2016 general elections.

Their allegations disclose among other charges that some top officers working at the above mentioned government agency at one time told them in the face that ” they (Kumasi importers) voted foolishly during election 2016 and that they the Customs Excise and Preventive Service(CEPS) Officials will therefore see to it that they go bankrupt in order not to have the capacity to help NPP financially come 2020 general election”

The foregoing vicious comment they alleged cropped up at the time they (Kumasi importers) called on them (CEPS Officials) at their office to make an official report on how they are harassed daily by security personnel, customs officers, personnel of National security and the police at the various check points whenever conveying goods from Togo into Ashanti region.

A number of officers of the aforementioned government agencies they disclosed are bent on extorting monies from them at check points mounted on Aflao, Accra to Kumasi road.

Sharing their ordeal, they informed THE PRESS RADIO that they are sometimes beaten up by some hungry police personnel.

Police officers positioned at some of the check points they disclosed sometimes chase after their vehicles when they refuse to make illegal monetary settlement.

They explained that, even after a thorough check of all documents covering their imported goods, officials still pressure them for huge sums of money before they are given a passage.

In a press statement copied to THE PRESS RADIO, the chairman for the association Mr. Yaw Banahene recalled that when they reported their inactions, some high profile staff of CEPS told them point blank without mincing words that “we (importers) deserve the inhuman treatment faced at the hands of security personnel at the various barriers because we voted foolishly during 2016”.

Executives of the group premised on the foregoing have made a strong appeal to His Excellency Nana Addo Danquah Akuffo Addo to call to order security personnel assigned to all the 23 check points stretching from Aflao to Kumasi and subject them under tight surveillance.

They have vowed to advise themselves come 2020 general elections if President Akuffo Addo fails to address the situation.

Source: Thepressradio.com /Enock Akonnor