Customs braces up to takeover companies

Mr Wallace Akondor, the Acting Commissioner Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority has urged Customs Officers to brace themselves for the challenges and work as a team to achieve set goals.

He said the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority was ready to take over the functions of the Destination Inspection Companies in September, this year, to enhance fast and efficient tax collection.

He said a lot of work was ongoing for the proper takeover of the companies, in line with plans to enhance the coordination of border management arrangements with other government agencies.

Mr Akondor was addressing personnel of the division during the Pull-out ceremony of Mr Stanley Boye-Quaye, the Assistant Commissioner, Wa Collection, after 37 years of dedicated service to Ghana.

Government in 2000 introduced the concept of destination inspection to replace the pre-shipment inspection system, which involved the inspection of imports before shipment from the country of supply.

Destination inspection is a concept, which was introduced to enhance customs functions as a stop-gap measure, whiles waiting for reforms and modernisation.

Mr. Akondor urged the companies to work together with Customs as partners to maximise revenue, saying: “Ghana is looking up to them and we cannot disappoint Ghana.

He charged the division to constitute itself as a force and work as a team to maintain good performance and improve to keep the Wa Collection on top.

Mr Boye-Quaye urged his successor, Mr George Attah-Kruffie, the Commissioner of Wa Collection, to work hard to either maintain or improve standards and make the division more vibrant and efficient.

He thanked the Upper West Regional Coordinating Council for the support its providing towards the Wa Collection, which has helped to improve performance.

The outgoing Commissioner appealed to people in the region to endeavour to support Mr Kruffie to deliver on his mandate during his tenure of office.

Mr Kruffie wished the outgoing commissioner well and assured that his administration would improve all measures and strategies put in place to help in revenue generation for the sector.