CEPS exceeds revenue target in Western Region

The Customs Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) has collected 185 billion cedis between January and September this year in the western region alone, representing 20.06 percent more than its annual target of 154 billion cedis.

Mr. Emmanuel N. Doku, Assistant Commissioner of CEPS, in-charge of Takoradi sector, announced this during a day's working visit to Takoradi by Mr. Isaac Opoku-Ntiamoah, Commissioner of CEPS.

"These targets were realised due to the introduction of the five percent concessionary duty on the export of mining equipment, sawn timber and wood products", he said.

Mr. Doku said the 10 percent duty on lumber, introduced this year by Parliament, has also yielded 9,087,733,800 billion cedis as at September 30.

He said though the Takoradi Port does not receive many vessels as compared to Tema, 464 of them called at the port thus limiting the revenue sources. He added that most of the items that passed through the harbour are mainly cement clinker, natural gypsum, and wheat.

"Others are lime, mining machinery and equipment, wood-working machinery and spare parts for sawmills," he added.

Mr. Doku explained that most of these items are cleared either free of duties or exempt from duties while general dutiable merchandise is low.

Mr. Opoku-Ntiamoah congratulated the Takoradi sector for the excess revenue and challenged them to work harder and exceed targets for the years ahead to improve their image as a tax collection agency.

He noted that smuggling which is rampant in several parts of the country, would be eliminated because the service would soon introduce modern technological devices to assist in the arrest of smugglers and personnel who connive with them.

Mr. Opoku-Ntiamoah explained that miniature video cameras and other gadgets are among a few of such devices to be introduced and cautioned that any CEPS personnel arrested, would be prosecuted and dismissed.

The Commissioner, informed personnel of the CEPS that a Code of Conduct would soon be made available and appealed to them to maintain a high standard of performance at all times.

Mr. Opoku-Ntiamoah said the code is expected to instil a high level of discipline among the personnel.