CEPS appeals for public co-operation

Fiapre (B/A), Nov. 20, GNA- The Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) has appealed to the general public to assist it to bring to book importers who evade taxes on their goods. Mr Kofi Apetor, acting CEPS sector commander for Sunyani Collection made the appeal at a press soiree organized by the service at Fiapre in Sunyani at the weekend.

He said CEPS as the highest state revenue collector needed the support and co-operation of all to enable it to achieve its revenue targets.

The acting commander mentioned in particular the media to help identify corrupt practices by importers and affirmed that the identities of informants would be secured and would be promptly rewarded. He said the service had introduced new methods to help it operate effectively and had also adopted new internal controls aimed at smoking out fraudulent officers.

The sector commander said the new measures were aimed at also serving the public better and gave the assurance of the Service's commitment to checking corrupt practices among its officials. "Customs officers by law can also be arrested just like police officers for professional misconduct", he said and advised the officers to avoid practices that would land them in trouble and rather work hard. Mr Apetor expressed his appreciation for the cordial support from the other security agencies and hoped that the bond of relationship would be sustained for the realization of organizational objectives and accelerated national growth.

He said the Sunyani branch has collected 2.3 billion cedis out of its target of 2.6 billion cedis so far this year, and expressed the hope that it would be met.

On problems facing the Service, the sector commander complained about the porous nature of the country's borders, which he said gave smugglers the leeway in their nefarious activities. "The porous borders give us a headache and it has not been easy to patrol and check especially the nocturnal activities of these economic saboteurs", he said, and called on communities along the borders to co-operate and assist the customs officials in their duties.