Upper West CEPS attains over 160 percent increase in revenue target

Wa, May 17, GNA - The Customs Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) in the Upper West Region exceeded its revenue target for 2009 by approximately 162.5 per cent.

The Service in the region managed to collect GH¢918,708 as against GH¢350,000 that was set for that year. Mr Terry Morkeh, Regional Commander of CEPS announced this on Saturday in Wa when he addressed personnel of the Service, members of other security agencies, departmental heads and a cross section of the public at an end-of-year get-together.

He attributed the achievement to hard work on the part of personnel and other stakeholders, who contributed immensely towards the success story of the institution.

Mr Morkeh called for co-operation from the public to enable the Service to rake in more revenue for the country. "Let all be seen to be assisting the sector to achieve more for the country because CEPS does not operate in a vacuum but with the public", he said.

Mr Morkeh commended the Upper West Regional Coordinating Council, the Police and the Ghana Airborne Force stationed in Wa for the immense support they give to CEPS's personnel as they face security challenges. He said the Upper West Police Command had helped to arrest motorists and made them to pay their taxes to CEPS and that had contributed to the increase in revenue mobilization. Mr David Yakubu, Chief Director of the Regional Coordinating Council, who chaired the forum, appealed to CEPS to work harder than before to raise more revenue for the country.

He said there had never been any year that government would not request for more revenue from CEPS and that explained why CEPS should continue to work harder to meet its targets. Some deserving hard working personnel were awarded for their performance within the period.

Mr Godwin Kokoro, a Senior Officer, who was among those rewarded, challenged other personnel in the region to work harder to make CEPS a number one revenue mobilization institution for the country.