Corrupt CEPS officers to be dismissed - Commissioner

Ho, Sept 23, GNA - Mr Harry Owusu, Executive Secretary of the Revenue Governing Board, on Monday said it was not rational for revenue agencies to drop their guard after exceeding set targets since their service conditions were partly linked to the amount collected.

He was addressing staff of the Customs Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) from Ho, Honuta, Shia and Batume border posts on concerns of government over increased smuggling along the eastern frontier. While commending the various outposts of the Ho collection for exceeding their targets by September, Mr Owusu said he was not "overly enthused since they could have done better" to prevent the massive inflow of smuggled textiles, cigarettes and food beverages on to the Ghanaian market.

Mr Owusu said the Revenue Governing Board expected that they collected the maximum taxes to increase the 2 1/2 percent retention for the improvement of their conditions of service.

He announced that a new collective agreement that puts CEPS at par with all the other revenue agencies had been approved but would be implemented alongside an exacting code of ethics under which miscreants would be sacked.

"You are no longer going to receive a shove when you are found wanting but a push. You could also face similar charge of causing financial loss to the state as some former Ministers faced," Mr Owusu stated.

Mr Owusu said the government had approved the retention of a further five billion cedis every month by CEPS to improve its covert operations. He said a more vigorous "point of sale check" at markets would soon be carried out and expressed regret that the courts do not give harsh sentences to deter smugglers.

Brigadier Richardson E. Baiden, Commissioner of CEPS, said the government had to summon commanders and deputies of the Ho and Aflao collections to a meeting, asking them to take steps to check smuggling in their areas.

He said he would not compromise with CEPS officers who would collude, condone or connive with smugglers and would not hesitate to recommend summary dismissal of such officers when caught.