REMAIN FOCUSSED, VIGILANT (PAGE 14)

OFFICERS of the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) have been urged to remain focused and vigilant on how to mobilise more revenue to support the country’s development agenda.
The Commissioner of CEPS, Mr Emmanuel N. Doku, who made the call at Elubo, urged the officers to let their focal point be on how to sustain the growth and productivity of revenue through the introduction of new and innovative systems, as well as procedures, that encouraged voluntary compliance, investment and economic growth.
“The qualitative changes that took place in 2008 should not be taken for granted. We must remain vigilant and acutely conscious of the risk involved in every chosen course of action and we need to work together and share ideas on how CEPS could chart a course through these turbulent economic times,” he said.
The commissioner said as the biggest revenue collection agency in the country, the service could not afford to be complacent and noted that Ghanaians would not forgive CEPS if that happened.
He asked them to embrace 2009 as a challenge to improve operational efficiency by creating, strengthening and streamlining inter-institutional linkages and partnerships.
Mr Doku said given the way the various collections had launched into the year, “I am confident that CEPS will continue to make great progress in reforming its corporate image and operational environment.”
“While there will always be challenges, there are also significant opportunities for CEPS to push ahead in developing a vibrant and customer friendly tax system,” he added.
The commissioner said while the focus was to increase output, “We must also strengthen and improve our human resource, organisation, management and operational capability in order that we may effectively play our role in national and international trade, economics and law enforcement.”
For his part, the Elubo Sector Commander, Mr Jeremiah Dwomoh, said the sector had exceeded its target by eight per cent for the first time in five years.
He said more than GH¢6.4 million was collected, against the GH¢6 million target set for itself.
The sector commander said the achievement came at the back of the humane and effective strategies, teamwork and determination that were adopted by the sector in the year under review.
Mr Dwomoh said the sector was doing everything possible to ensure that it did better this year.