Regional Ministers urges CEPS to meet revenue targets

Paga (U/E), Sep. 9, GNA - The Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) has been urged to always endeavour to meet its revenue target to enable the government continue with its development agenda without financial constraints.

The Upper East Region Minister, Mr. Alhassan Samari, made the call during his maiden visit to the CEPS border post at Paga, near Bolgatanga, to interact with the officers. He reiterated that Government depended so much on customs revenue for development and appealed to the officers to redouble their efforts in the area of revenue mobilization.

"The Government expectation from you as CEPS officials is so high and you ought to live up to the challenges by using your higher professionalism in the discharge of your duties," Mr Samari stressed. He said the Paga border post was one of the most vibrant and one of the highest revenue collection points in the country and entreated the CEPS officials to endeavour to widen their revenue mobilization network. Mr. Affortey Annang, Principal Collector at the Paga post appealed to the Regional Minister to help rehabilitate its transit car park, which is currently in a deplorable condition, to facility their work. He said another major problem confronting them was the lack of accommodation and entreated the Minister to come to their aid. The Regional Minister assured the officers that their concerns would be addressed and tasked the Kassena-Nankana District Chief Executive to get the Regional Highways Engineer to assess the cost of works on the transit car park.

Mr. Samari also assured them that the Assembly would take up the challenge to provide accommodation for them and urged the officers to exercise restraint.

The Upper East Regional Commander of CEPS, Evans Klutse conducted the Regional Minister round on the visit.