Don't under-declare goods - CEPS Ladies

Accra, Oct. 14, GNA - Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) Ladies Club on Friday took their education on taxes to the streets, urging the public not to under-declare their goods at the borders but honour all tax obligations to enhance development. They also urged traders to desist from smuggling, which starved the nation of revenue.

CEPS Ladies went on a float through the city's business centre in Accra on a national tax education campaign under theme; "Compliance - A Pre-requisite for Effective Mobilization of Customs Duties and Taxes." The float afforded the ladies to interact with traders at Tudu, Makola, Abbossey Okai and Kaneshie.

Some of the banners carried by ladies read: "Let's expose the nation wreckers", "Your security and trade facilitation is CEPS business," "Deka Deka business must stop", "CEPS and traders are friends." Mrs Cecilia Cobblah, a Principal Collector of CEPS, who is in-charge of Exports at Kotoka International Airport, said most traders, especially women, were ignorant about their tax obligations hence the need to sensitise them.

She noted that CEPS collected about 55 per cent of total government revenue, which was used to finance the budget.

"If we evade taxes, government will not be able to provide amenities in our cities and towns, let alone pay salaries of workers." Mrs Cobblah, who is also the National president of the Ladies Club, said those who evaded taxes also lost their capital whenever their wares were seized and this brought untold hardship.

She appealed to traders not see CEPS officials as enemies but friends of development who ensured the protection of government revenue. Some traders complained about frustrating delays caused by some CEPS officials while clearing their goods.