Upper East RCC commends CEPS for exceeding target

Paga, (UE), Feb. 24, GNA- Mr. Samuel Nlary, Chief Director of the Upper East Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) at the weekend commended Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) for exceeding its target in the region for the year 2007.

He made the commendation during the Annual Award ceremony held by CEPS in Paga, in the Upper East Region to honour deserving staff members.

The Bolgatanga Branch of CEPS was able to rake in 2.1 million Ghana Cedis as against it target revenue of 1.8 million Ghana Cedis, thus exceeding 317,172.96 representing 17.6 per cent.

Mr. Nlary observed that despite the flood disaster that hit the Region, which could have affected revenue mobilization, CEPS managed to meet and exceed its target.

"This is highly commendable and needed to be continued and improved upon significantly", he pointed out.

Mr. Nlary said, notwithstanding CEPS' achievement it needed to intensify its tax public education to enable them to generate more revenue for development.

He called on CEPS to effectively enforce its mechanism put in place to ensure that there were no leakages in the mobilization of taxes and appealed to CEPS not to hesitate to deal with anybody or group of people who would want to evade tax at the expense of the nation's development "It is an offence for any individual person or group of people to evade taxes. People, especially leaders even in developed countries who evade tax are made to face the full rigour of the law", he emphasized. Mr. Nlary explained that payment of tax was a duty and every Ghanaian must therefore satisfy this obligation to enable Government to provide more infrastructure to enhance the living standards of the people.

The Chief Director said, the developed countries could have not been able to give Ghana grants and loans if their citizens refused to pay their taxes.

"Ghanaians must therefore take a cue from this and honour their tax obligation to enhance socio-economic development", he stressed. Fifteen deserving staff members were awarded with certificates for their hard work and dedication.