Council of State Member Implicated in Labianca Import Saga Reported Dead

Eunice Jacqueline Buah Asomah-Hinneh, the Council of State member and owner of Labianca Company Limited- a company that was implicated in influence peddling in 2022- is reported dead.

Multiple reports say she died after a short illness.

Import Saga
A petition by one Frank Asare to the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) on November 16, 2021, against Labianca Group of Companies and its subsidiary companies called for an investigation into the award of markdown to the company engaged in the importation of frozen chicken parts, fish, pork, and fries monthly primarily from Europe and the United States of America.

The OSP in its investigations found strong evidence that suggests influence peddling, in that the 5% – 10% markdown in benchmark values granted to Labianca was “wrongful and unsupported by the requirements of the law”.

Mrs Asamoah-Hinneh was eventually compelled to pay an amount of GHC1,074,627.15 to the Asset Recovery Account of the Office of the Special Prosecutor.

The amount was paid by the company on March 31, 2022, after the OSP issued an interim directive to Labianca Company Limited to pay the amount and represented a shortfall of revenue arising from the issuance of an unlawful customs advance ruling to Labianca by the Deputy Commissioner for Customs in charge of operations, Mr Joseph Adu Kyei.