ACCRA, Feb 8 – The government of Ghana said here Friday it was digging deeper into the seized gold bars at the Ataturk International Airport in Istanbul, Turkey, last month.
Minister for Information and Media Relations Mahama Ayariga said in a statement the state investigative apparatus, Bureau of National Investigations (BNI), had been tasked to unravel the mystery surrounding the gold deal.
Two Ghanaians, Peter Bedzrah and Fredrick Kojo Essumang, the statement said, had been operating under the corporate identity of “Omanye Gold Mining Ltd” from a house at Tanta Hill, a suburb of the capital, without visible signs of a corporate entity.
The statement said the two, said to have been involved in the transaction to supply gold to one Vahid Moradi Moghaddam, were still being interrogated.
The statement continued that a ULS cargo aircraft (Airbus 300-B4) arrived at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) from Tripoli, Libya, and filled a Landing Clearance Request form indicating it was to lift gold bars as its cargo.
It said the aircraft was handled by Menzies Airline Handling Services from touchdown to departure.
“The cargo departed Accra on 31st December 2012 with the goods which were destined for Dubai but was detained in Ataturk International Airport in Istanbul on 1st January, 2013, because of claims of questionable documentation,” the statement added.
It explained that the consignment had arrived at the KIA for pre-export formalities under two certificates for ‘mineral samples’ and ‘laboratory analysis only and of no commercial value’.
One Thomas Adu signed both forms for the Director of Geological Survey, one dated 31st December 2012, and the other dated 7th January 2013.
The said mineral samples were consigned to an address in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), said the statement.
It said while one Isaac Anakwa Asante, Head of Operations of Menzies who inspected the cargo before scanning by Nick TC-Scan reported sighting gold bars, the exporter, Kofi Bedzrah of Omanye Gold Mining Ltd, insisted his company exported gold bars of 1.5 tons with a value of 62,000,000 dollars.
“However, the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (CD/GRA) Instructions for the Dispatch of Goods (IDG) form entered the goods as ‘mineral samples’. The pre-departure formalities were endorsed by Kwesi Avemee, a collector of CD/GRA, and Albert Kan Dapaah, a Narcotics Control Board (NACOB) official.
“While mineral samples do not attract tax liability, it was found unusual to have mineral samples shipped in such tonnage,” the statement stated.
Sections of the media reported last month the detention of an aircraft in Istanbul allegedly carrying 1.5 tons of gold originating in Ghana and destined for the Islamic Republic of Iran.
There was speculation in the local media that the said shipment was payment by Ghana in respect of some financial transaction with the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Government however distanced itself from the said transaction. Enditem.
Source: Justice Lee Adoboe
via Government Of Ghana Says Its Digging Deep Into Turkey Gold Affair.