TAKORADI CEPS EXCEEDS TARGET ...Page 25

Story: Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu, Takoradi

The Takoradi Collection Point of the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) has exceeded its set target for 2007.
 In 2007, the collection point was given a target of GH¢107 billion, but by the end of December 31, 2007, it had collected GH¢111 billion, representing an increase of three per cent.
Speaking at the joint end-of-year get-together and awards ceremony in Takoradi, the Sector Commander, Mr Anthony K. Sewor, attributed the feat, after five years of negative performance, to the dedication of the staff.
He reminded the officers that the good performance by the Takoradi Collection Point should be seen as a great challenge which required harder work to achieve better results in the first three quarters of 2008.
The sector commander said this was an election year, and it was known that the activities of importers during the fourth quarter of an election year always dwindled.
“We must, therefore, pursue policies so that we can collect enough in the first three quarters to offset any shortfall that may occur in the last quarter; we must aspire to do more since attention is now on us, and we must not let mother Ghana down,” he said.
He said the CEPS had drawn up a strategic plan with the adoption of its mission statement to employ modern progressive, efficient, transparent and fair processes to collect as much revenues as possible and account for them.
To achieve the set objectives, he stressed the need to equip officers with appropriate knowledge and skills through in-service training programmes to enhance their performance.
Mr Sewor said currently, all staff were undergoing computer training at the collection point and the service was also building checkpoints on the Agona Junction-Elubo road, commonly referred to as “Mile 32”.
Deserving senior and junior staff were awarded prizes for distinguishing themselves in various fields.