Customs unable to meet revenue target

The Ghana Revenue Authority, Customs Division in the Upper East Region has failed to meet its revenue collection target of GH¢ 5,180,000 during the first six months of the year.

It made GH¢ 2, 905,961.08, slightly above half of the target from collections between January and June.

Mr John Baptist Dumba, Assistant Commissioner (AC) of the Upper East Regional Command of the Ghana Revenue Authority made this known in an interview with the Ghana News Agency.

He attributed the shortage to the fall in the cedi and drop in business due to onset of rains which had made movement of goods and services from border towns difficult but added that the GRA was working hard to improve the situation for the rest of the year.

Mr Dumba said that was being done in the collaboration with other stakeholders in the Region and the communication directorate of GRA to educate the public on taxation and the need to pay taxes on goods and services.

Mr Dumba advised the public especially traders and importers to ensure appropriate taxes were paid on their businesses and also learn more about their businesses to make their tax obligations easier.

He said his outfit was not relenting in their mandate and that they collaborated with other security operatives to curb human trafficking and smuggling of goods.