One of the most respected Custom Officers in the country, Mr. Baffour Dwomoh-Jermih, the Chief Collector at the Kotoka International Airport has fallen victim to what looks like a frame-up and hasty official action to interdict him. Now the Senior Staff Association of CEPS is "calling for his unconditional re-instatement at his post".
In a six page petition to the Minister of Finance, Yaw Osafo Maafo, whose Ministry oversees the operations of CEPS the Association said, "...government officials are deliberately misinformed and misled into taking actions to victimise and tarnish the reputation of innocent and hardworking officers who are contributing their quota in revenue mobilization for the development of the nation."
Travellers who pass through the arrival hall of the international airport would recognise Mr. Dwomoh-Jermih as a mild mannered and polite officer who is always at hand to help arriving passengers with their problems.
His colleagues on the Senior Staff Association expressed great misgivings in private when the news of his interdiction got to them. Their unanimity about a frame-up is total and indeed even non-CEPS staff who have had contact with him have expressed dismay at his interdiction.
In a strange twist of fortune, he is being punished for a job well done in a case involving a suspected money launderer, one Francis Slaetz, whose detention at the airport with the co-operation of Mr. Dwomoh-Jermih led to the discovery of an amount of 25,000 Euros (about US$25,000).
"It is interesting," according to the senior staff, "to note that after Mr. Dwomoh had complied with the Narcotics Board's request for a thorough examination of the foreign national and the suspect's subsequent declaration of the foreign currency in his possession as required by law, he did not prevent the Narcotics Board official from arresting Mr. Francis Slaetz."
The popular Custom Officer's problem seems to have arisen over differences between him and Major (Rtd) Abdul Braimah of the Narcotics Board, who according to the senior staff letter to the Minister of Finance had "sworn before a Deputy Commissioner of CEPS to get Baffour Dwomoh-Jermih removed from the KIA Preventive Unit."
Mr. Dwomoh-Jermih's competence does not seem to be in doubt either because "the Association is aware that Baffour Dwomoh-Jermih has demonstrated [a] record number of 23 narcotic arrests within a record time of 15 months."
ADM has spoken to some officers of CEPS who think Mr. Dwomoh's interdiction might have been a little too hasty and the action is affecting morale.
Another CEPS officer, Osmanu Zingani of the Rapid Response Unit, who recently intercepted restricted drugs from Nigeria valued at three hundred million cedis has been given the marching orders from the Unit which again the senior staff say smacks of victimization.
Since the revenue sector is vital to the national economy, if care is not taken, any serious loss of morale at CEPS could seriously affect the economy.
