Loss of revenue to the State is artificially created- Mills

Elubo (W/R) June 14, GNA - Authorities of the Anti-revenue Leakages Special Monitoring Team at the weekend observed that most of the activities that leads to revenue loss to the State are artificially created by people to divert money into their pockets.

Mr Thomas Mills, Leader of the team said: "Some of the people who have been mandated to collect revenue on behalf of the nation are protecting their own interests by aiding and abetting acts that leads to revenue leakages.

Mr Mills made this observation to the Ghana News Agency at Elubo in the Western Region after the team had carried out a special operation that revealed that the bulk of rice imports takes place at the area through unapproved routes from neighbouring La Cote d' Ivoire. He said some of the importers who pass through the approved routes connive with revenue collectors to under value their goods. This he said was affecting revenue mobilisation for the country and people doing genuine business in rice importation.

"Local rice producers and the fledgling rice industry is dying a natural death through these activities," he noted. Mr Mills said the trend had assumed a national dimension hence the need for the revenue authorities to institute tough measures against people whose acts and omissions leads to loss of revenue.

He said any person found culpable must be dealt with, adding that it is the responsibility of all Ghanaians to take interest in safeguarding the revenue that accrue to the State to facilitate the Better Ghana Agenda. "The monitoring team will not compromise with people who pay bribes and not duties and those who collect bribes and not duties. We shall go after them 24 hours a day." The team is a under the Ghana Revenue Authority. 14 June 10