Tema, April 6,GNA-Mr. George Blankson, Commissioner General of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), on Tuesday said revenue professionals coul= d no longer afford to delay the integration and modernization of the revenu= e administration in the country. "We must see integrated revenue authority in a positive, productive vein, thus enhancing innovation in revenue administration which we can on= ly resist at a heavy cost to our standing as revenue professionals, and to t= he nation at large."

Mr. Blankson made these remarks when he paid familiarization visits to the offices of three revenue collection agencies in the Tema Metropolis, namely, Customs, Excise and Preventive Service, the Internal Revenue Serv= ice and the Valued Added Tax.

The Commissioner General who was at the three institutions to intera= ct with the staff on his assumption of office some few weeks ago, told them that with the GRA in place, they would kick-start the process of defining=

the vision and mission of the Authority by way of workshops and other mea= ns. He said eventually, the output of "this entire process clearly set o= ut in a document would constitute the blue-print for working towards a GRA's=

vision". Mr. Blankson reminded staff of the institutions of the challenges ah= ead but "we can easily overcome simply by each turning round and re-directing=

our steps towards one central point."

He charged them to ensure that while still carrying out a reform of the single revenue institution and operational procedures and processes, GRA staff should strive to collect revenue and even go the extra mile of improving on the collection.

The Commissioner General said in spite of the efforts to be put in b= y staff of the three revenue institutions towards integration and modernization, "the more important thing will be for us to remain more committed, dedicated to duty, focused, and stay on course." Mr. Blankson, who was accompanied the Commissioners of the three revenue institutions, had earlier paid a courtesy call on Mr. Nestor Perc= y Galley, Director-General of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority. Mr. Galley pledged GPHA's determination to co-operate with GRA to collect more revenue to ensure the strengthening of the revenue base of t= he country. 6 April 10