Police to introduce on-the-spot-fines

The Ghana Police Service would from this year introduce on-the-spot fines for some minor motor offences.

The Minister of Finance, Mr Yaw Osafo-Maafo announced this in Accra in the 2003 Budget Statement that he presented to Parliament, but stopped short of stating the exact offences.

The introduction of this form of raising revenue the Minister said was to improve the collection of non-tax revenue.

He said the Ministry of Finance would work with MDAs to explore the possibility of introducing private sector participation in the collection of revenue.

Mr Osafo-Maafo said the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) would also introduce a fast track window at an extra cost to quicken the processing of passports.

"Passport acquisition is a daily occurrence, as most Ghanaians are known to request for new passports each time their visa applications are rejected."

He said rates for services rendered by some agencies would be reviewed this year to ensure cost recovery.

They are Ministry of Works and Housing, Registrar General's Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, GIS, Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority, Department of Parks and Gardens, Department of Factories Inspectorate, Ministry of Trade and Industry, Mines Department and the Environmental Protection Agency.

The necessary proposals, the Minister said, would be submitted to Parliament in due course.