CEPS is Understaffed

The Ghana Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) is understaffed and that has contributed to many flaws within the service, Lt. Col. Sam A. Ashiagbor, Deputy Commissioner, Special Duties CEPS has said.

He was answering questions on why CEPS officials have been allowing smuggled goods into the country, at an encounter between the Customs and Ghana Union Traders Association (GUTA) in Accra on Tuesday.

The agenda for the day "Tax Education Programme" was to forge collaboration between the two, that would enhance tax collection.

Lt. Col. Ashiagbor said, "Although the nation has numerous borders, which serve as entry points to the country only a few have mounted posts for CEPS border guards."

He said CEPS has only 3,200 officials posted to the borders, which is far below the required number. He estimated ratio of guarded entry points to the number borders as three to ten. This, he said, has also gone against the workers who are paid less because the government does not generate enough funds from tax.

Mr. Osei Agyei, Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry said his ministry will team up with Ghana Standards Board and Ghana Food and Drugs Board to embark on intensive 'destination inspection' into imported products on the market and said the team would seize and discard any product labelled in a language other than English.

He appealed to traders to avoid importing or buying goods inscribed with other languages and also pleaded with them to obey customs rules and pay their taxes regularly to adequately resource the government, to enable it support the hospitals, schools and other needed sectors in Ghana.

Mr. P. Adubofuor, Deputy Commissioner, Operations CEPS said CEPS has the right to inspect all goods that arrive at the ports and items like alcohol, can be taken to test if it is of quality standard. But no CEPS official has the right to take items from a trader for his or her personal use, and such cases must be reported.

The traders blamed CEPS officials for allowing smuggled goods into the country. Some said it is not their intention to cheat the government but lack of collaboration between them and CEPS and also between CEPS and Gateway Services Limited has also contributed to this factor as well as excessive duty clearance.

They called on the government to reduce duties on imported goods and also facilitate clearance of goods at the ports.