Finance Minister presents Budget to Parliament.

The Minister of Finance, Mr. Kwame Peprah, today presented the government's financial statement to Parliament. The budget highlighted some policy directives aimed at streamlining the activities of importers. As part of measures to strengthen revenue collection and pluck some of the leakage in the current system, a special auditing system would be employed by the Customs Excise and Preventive Service, Internal Revenue Service and the VAT secretariat. This according to the budget will ensure that even if importers manage to invade duty at the ports of entry, they would be detected after the audit of their operations, and would be liable for the payment of evaded tax plus penalty prescribed by law. This follows the realization that there are some levels of abuse in the import and sector businesses. Still on the budget, as part of efforts to ensure the country's competitiveness as a trade and investment destination, under the Ghana Gateway programme, Mr. Peprah announced that visas for all categories of investors and Tourist shall be issued on arrival at the Kotoka International Airport. The Customs Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) will be made proactive this year and will be on a 7 days a week basis.