Osafo Marfo bans use of cell phones by CEPS officials

The Crusading Guide carries that in order to help increase revenue for the State, the Finance Minister, Mr. Yaw Osafo Marfo has taken stringent measures to curb corruption within the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) to the displeasure of some top CEPS officials.

A letter signed by the Assistant Commissioner/Administration, Pius A. Austin on 11th October 2001, revealed that the Finance Minister’s directive that customs officials should stop using their mobile phones on duty because they use the phones to communicate with smugglers and divert vehicles carrying unaccustomed goods from routes where they are likely to be detected.

“It has come to the notice of Honourable Sector Minister that Customs Officers use cellular (Mobile) phones to communicate with smugglers and persons in charge of vehicles carrying uncustomed goods to divert them from routes where they are likely to be detected”, the letter said. “Such malpractices cause considerable loss of revenue to the State”, it added.

The Minister further directed that since customs officers who are on duty at various Check Points and Custom Offices have access to the regular communication system within CEPS, no Custom Officer on duty within the Service except at he head office should carry cellular (Mobile) phones without the written permission of the Minister of Finance or any of his deputies”.

The letter concluded by warning that “any officer who contravened this directive would be punished”.

This ministerial directive has however not gone down well with the rank and file of the service. Both senior and junior officers have spoken against it.