Hills Oil Marketing rejects Auditor General’s 2018 report

Hills Oil Marketing Company has rubbished as “factual in-exactitude” allegations by the Auditor General, Daniel Domelovo that it defaulted in excise duties, taxes and levies.

Mr Domelevo in his 2018 report indicted Hills Oil Marketing Company of defaulting in the payment of excise duties, taxes and levies amounting to GHS 64,024.80.

Mr Domelevo further stated that the company is liable to penalty/interest on delayed payment of excise duties amounting to GHS13,809.70 on petroleum products lifted.

But in a statement the management of Hills Oil Marketing Company denied the allegations, describing them as inaccurate.

“Hills Oil Marketing finds these allegations as unfortunate and undesirable and views them as factual inexactitude and therefore, wishes to clarify the issue,” the statement said.

According to the company, “the reported tax liability of GHS 64,024.80 is alien to Hills Oil; considering that the records available to Hills Oil does not indicate any such liability of GHS 64,024.80 payable to the Ghana Revenue Authority as excise duties, taxes and or levies.

“Hills oil wants to place on record that penalty/interest on delayed payment of excise duties amounting to GHS13, 809.70 on petroleum products lifted has been paid.  A simple post-audit examination would have confirmed this.”

Below is the full statement

Hills Oil Marketing Company sets record straight over 2018 Auditor- General’s Report

Hills Oil Marketing Company has observed with concern, media reports and misrepresentations made by sections of the public from the 2018 report of the Auditor- General’s Department.

The company would like to make theses clarification:

1. Hills Oil Marketing Company has defaulted in the payment of excise duties, taxes and levies amounting to GHS 64,024.80.

* Hills Oil Marketing is liable to penalty/interest on delayed payment of excise duties amounting to GHS13,809.70 on petroleum products lifted;

Hills Oil Marketing finds these allegations as unfortunate and undesirable and views them as factual inexactitude and therefore, wishes to clarify the issue.

1. The reported tax liability of GHS 64,024.80 is alien to Hills Oil; considering that the records available to Hills Oil does not indicate any such liability of GHS 64,024.80 payable to the Ghana Revenue Authority as excise duties, taxes and or levies.

* Hills oil wants to place on record that penalty/interest on delayed payment of excise duties amounting to GHS13, 809.70 on petroleum products lifted has been paid.  A simple post-audit examination would have confirmed this.

* In order that we can resolve this matter expeditiously, Hills Oil Company has provided the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority and the Auditor General’s Department with all supporting documents attesting to full payment of its excise duties, taxes and levies on petroleum products lifted at the Tema Oil Refinery.   

* Hills Oil has requested the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority to bring this matter to an expeditious conclusion to forestall any further misrepresentation. 

We assure our customers, stakeholders and the public that, as a licensed oil marketing company, our compliance with the regulations of the petroleum industry and the laws of Ghana remains unrivalled as we cooperate fully with regulators.

Signed

General Manager

Source: Daily Mail GH