Finance Minister inaugurates revenue agencies board

Accra, Aug. 17, GNA- The Finance Minister, Dr. Kwabena Duffuor, on Monday inaugurated an 11-member board for the Revenue Agencies and charged them to come out with strategies to step up revenue generation during the fiscal year.

A press release issued by Ms Cecelia Akwetey, Head of the Public Relations Unit of the ministry, said, Dr Duffuor noted that the revenue agencies have not met their target for the first half of the year although the global financial meltdown had affected foreign inflows. "It has therefore become imperative that the agencies double up efforts in domestic revenue mobilisation.

"Mr. Chairman (Emmanuel Kwesi), I will therefore task you and your board to ensure that all impediments to domestic revenue mobilization are removed immediately. Leakages in the administration of taxes must be sealed once and for all."

Dr Duffuor urged the board to speed up their efforts in the enforcement the code of conduct and training on integrity issues for staff to improve service delivery and also minimize corruption related acts.

Mr. Kwesi assured the minister of the commitment of members to the tasked ahead.

The release said today (August 17) marked the inauguration of the fourth Board of Directors of the Revenue Agencies Governing Board (RAGB) since its implementation in 2001.

The RAGB was established by an Act of Parliament in 1998 to supervise and co-ordinate the activities of the revenue agencies. This was done as part of the reforms in revenue administration embarked upon in 1986.