The Customs Excise and Preventing Service of the Ghana Revenue Authority in the Upper East Region has called on government to equip the division with vehicles to enhance intensified patrols along the borders of the Region.
The Commander at the Bolgatanga Collection of the Customs Division, Assistant Commissioner Francis Tanlongo made the appeal at an end of year party at Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region. The party was aimed at awarding deserving staff for their commitment to duties and to motivate the entire staff to work harder in 2019.
In view of that, Assistant Commissioner, Francis Tanlongo, projected that 2019 will be a more challenging year due to the removal of some customs barriers.
“…following the removal of Customs barriers, we are going to intensify our patrols along the borders and major routes to combat smuggling. The vehicles and Motorbikes Task Force will intensify its patrols to arrest all unaccustomed vehicles. For us to achieve this, we however need robust vehicles to enhance our intensified patrols.” He said.
Mr. Tanlongo also admitted that the revenue collection target which was assigned to the Bolgatanga collection could not be achieved and blamed it on the fact that the revenue target was later reviewed upwards.
“Originally, the target allotted to Bolgatanga Collection was GHc 11,430,000.00 and if we were to go by that target, we would have exceeded our set target of about 19.87% positive deviation, but in the course of the 2018, our target was reviewed upwards to GHc 18,520,000.00 leading to a negative deviation of about 26.02%. This made us not to meet the stretched target of GHc 18,540,000.00 and despite all that; I wish to congratulate my officers for their hard works.”
The Upper East Regional Minister, Paulina Patience Abayage, in a speech read for her, appealed to the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority to collaborate with all relevant stakeholders to fight smuggling at the borders, in order to achieve its targets for 2019.
Source: a1radioonline.com | 101.1 MHz | Moses Apiah | Ghana
