In an extraordinary display of integrity that has captivated the nation, Ghanaian businessman Henry Manly-Spain has rejected a GH¢79.65 million judgment debt awarded to his company by the Accra High Court, insisting the amount far exceeds what his firm is legitimately owed.
The Chief Executive Officer of Servistar Minwax (WA) Limited says his company originally claimed approximately GH¢8.95 million for overpaid import duties, and even with accumulated interest, the figure should not exceed GH¢10 million .
“My conscience will not allow me to accept and enjoy such an amount that is far beyond the value of my original claim,” Manly-Spain told Graphic Online in an exclusive interview .
Court Order and Background
The Accra High Court (Commercial Division 3), presided over by Justice Doris Awuah Dabanka-Bekoe, issued a garnishee order on July 22, 2026, directing the Bank of Ghana to release GH¢79,651,132.62 from the Ghana Revenue Authority’s refund account to Servistar Minwax .
The ruling followed garnishee proceedings on July 20, 2026, during which the Bank of Ghana was asked to show cause why funds in the GRA’s operational and refund accounts should not be attached to satisfy the judgment debt .
The court directed that the funds be paid into the Logan & Associates Clients Account at ABSA Bank Ghana Limited, Ring Road Branch, Accra .
The underlying case dates back to 2009, when Servistar Minwax overpaid import duties. An audit conducted in 2016 confirmed the overpayment, but the GRA failed to process the refund despite the company’s application, leading to legal action .
‘A Betrayal of My Conscience’
Manly-Spain, a former Vice President of the Ghana Boxing Authority, described accepting the full amount as “a betrayal of my conscience, my business and the nation” .
“I cannot fathom seeing myself taking such money when I have actually realised the struggles facing the government in providing the basic needs of Ghanaians,” he said .
The businessman cited the government’s difficulties in funding essential healthcare equipment, including dialysis machines and incubators, as a key motivation for his decision .
“The state needs money for development projects. Hospitals are crying for equipment, including dialysis machines. I cannot enjoy this money. It is far more than what we filed,” he stated .
How the Discrepancy Arose
Manly-Spain explained that he was initially unaware the claim had ballooned to nearly GH¢80 million, as he had largely left the matter in his lawyer’s hands after providing the relevant documents .
He said he first heard the GH¢79.7 million figure during court proceedings when he witnessed a disagreement between his lawyer and a Customs officer.
“I was with a good friend of mine who is also a lawyer. He looked at me, I looked at him, and we both repeated the money, and I shook my head,” he recalled .
According to Manly-Spain, the original claims comprised more than GH¢7 million relating to containers sold by the GRA and approximately GH¢940,000 in overpaid duties .
“I was just saying that if there should be anything at all, it should not go beyond GH¢10 million, with all the interest accrued,” he said .
Attempt to Raise Concerns in Court
The businessman revealed that he attempted to raise the discrepancy before judgment was delivered but was not allowed to address the court.
“I raised my hand up and then just to utter something, but the court said no one is talking here,” he recounted . According to him, the judge indicated that her decision had already been written .
“To take GH¢79 million, knowing the fact that that is not what I am expecting, I feel I am doing a great disservice first to God and secondly to the nation,” he said .
Petition for Independent Investigation
In a petition dated August 1, 2026, addressed to the Commissioner-General of the GRA, Manly-Spain formally rejected the awarded sum and called for an independent review.
“I, Henry Manly-Spain, write officially as Director, Servistar Minwax (WA) Limited, and a shareholder, to reject an amount of GH¢79,651,132 judgment debt payment granted to the company against the GRA,” he wrote .
He called on the GRA, the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), and other relevant investigative bodies to independently review the matter and establish the amount genuinely owed to the company .
GRA to Appeal
Meanwhile, the Ghana Revenue Authority is reportedly preparing to challenge the High Court’s ruling at the appellate court . The planned appeal adds another layer of complexity to a case that has generated widespread public interest, particularly following Manly-Spain’s unprecedented decision to reject a judgment debt awarded in favour of his own company.
Legal Arguments
During the garnishee proceedings, the Bank of Ghana argued that the GRA’s operational account could not be attached because an earlier ruling had classified it as a salary account. It also contended that the refund account was protected because it was specifically designated for taxpayers who had overpaid their taxes .
Counsel for the GRA relied on Section 69(2) of the Revenue Administration Act, 2016 (Act 915), arguing that the refund account was restricted to its statutory purpose and could not be attached .
However, counsel for Servistar Minwax, Maxwell Logan, argued that the judgment debt itself arose from an unpaid tax refund and could therefore be paid from the refund account .
The court held that the plaintiff, like other taxpayers who had made excess tax payments, was entitled to be paid from the GRA refund account under Section 69(2)(a) of Act 915 .
About Servistar Minwax (WA) Limited
Servistar Minwax (WA) Limited is a Ghanaian company owned by Henry Ekow Manly-Spain, a businessman and former Vice President of the Ghana Boxing Authority .
