35 customs officers transferred to Tema

A total of 35 principal and senior revenue officers of the Ghana Revenue Authority have been transferred from their various duty posts across the country to the Tema Collection point.

Reasons for their transfer are unclear but TV3’s Josephine Frempong, gathered it forms part of the government’s efforts at tightening loopholes in revenue generation as well as to retrieve all revenue lost on account of corrupt and unprofessional practices.

All the transferred staff are from the Customs Division of the GRA from the Takoradi, Accra, Koforidua collection points, the Customs headquarters, TOR and Kpetoe Academy.

On Friday the Deputy Finance Minister, Kwaku Kwarteng, expressed government’s disapproval over GRA’s failure to achieve its target for the first quarter of 2017. Of the GHC7.611 target, it managed to generate GHC7.396 million, thus a shortfall of GHC215.8 million.

The Authority with effect from Thursday interdicted 15 officers of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority at the Tema Collection point for allegedly causing financial loss to the state through tax evasion.

Their monthly salaries have also been cut by one-third and have been barred from entering the premises of the GRA until otherwise directed.

They have been accused of “conniving and permitting” some companies to evade duties and taxes causing the GRA a revenue loss of GHC8,575,796.86, a letter dated May 17 and signed by Fred Charles Anson, the acting Commissioner in charge of Support Service at the GRA claimed.