Aggudey's firm in trouble again

Story: Boahene Asamoah

Twenty vehicles belonging to Gocrest Security were yesterday impounded by officials of the Value Added Tax (VAT) and some police personnel, for the company’s persistent refusal to pay GH¢615,990.85 or (¢6.15 billion) owed to the state over the past four years.
In the dawn operation, the keys to the vehicles including four bullion Man Diesel Trucks, 15 bullion Toyota Hilux vehicles and one Nissan Urvan were taken away from Mr George Oposika Aggudey, the owner of the company at his Weija residence.
The exercise did not affect 25 other posh private cars which were parked in the mansion of the Mr Aggudey, a former Convention People’s Party (CPP) Presidential candidate.
The cars included an Escalade, three Lincoln saloon cars, two poshe sports cars, a Mercedes E Class, two convertible cars, a Jaguar, a Landcruiser, three BMW’s, and a Toyota Hilux among many others.
Mr Aggudey who was awoken from his sleep as early as 5:30 am by his security guard to attend to the VAT officials call, looked sober and tried unsuccessful to negotiate with the VAT officials who would not listen to any explanation.
According to Mr Henry Sam, the leader of the task force, Mr Aggudey had refused all friendly customer appeals to him to pay the outstanding amount.
He indicated the distress action was to ensure that defaulters do pay back taxes that was due to the state and explained that the exercise was undertaken at the early hours of the day because of the nature of business of the company.
He indicated that some cheques issued by the company sometime last year amounting to GH¢240,000 were dishonoured and that by the laws of the VAT, they would only receive cash payments or by bankers draft.
Mr Aggudey indicated that he had visited the VAT Commissioner this week and had made arrangements to make payments for which he had submitted cheques to pay the outstanding amount.
Mr Aggudey who looked visibly disturbed did not argue further and started making calls to unknown personalities.
He subsequently obliged and handed over the keys to the vehicles which were packed outside his house to the leader of the task force.
The drivers of the sized vehicles who had come early morning to start their daily work schedule were seen outside seated in front of Mr Aggudey’s mansion.
A team of five VAT officials and six police officers from the Striking Force and some journalists were detailed to undertake the exercise.