KIA CEPS collects 503.96 billion cedis

Accra, Jan. 22, GNA- The Custom Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) collected 503.96 billion cedis as total revenue for the 2005 fiscal year, from a target of 618.3 billion cedis.

Sector Commander, Seth Dovlo who announced this attributed the shortfall of about 114.34 billion to the numerous tax exemptions that the service gave to companies.

He was speaking at an end-of-year get-tot-gather on Saturday for CEPS staff at the KIA, which was also attended by other relevant stakeholders.

Mr Dovlo urged the official to re-examine their individual and collective responsibilities to find out the causes of the revenue dip and chart a new path for the years ahead. He noted that although the officials could not meet the revenue requirement, they performed creditably well, especially in busting mobile phone syndicates that brought revenue to the state. In a speech read on his behalf, the CEPS Commissioner, Maj. Gen. Richardson Baidoo urged the personnel to work meticulously in carving a new image for the service.

He stressed that the Service would focus on key areas, including preventive, compliance and enforcement, recruitment and Information Technology expansion and management system.