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CEPS appeals for help to bring to book
tax evaders
Fiapre (B/A), Nov. 20, Ghanadot/GNA- The Customs, Excise and
Preventive Service (CEPS) has appealed to the general public
to assist it to bring to book importers who evade taxes on
their goods.
Mr Kofi Apetor, acting CEPS sector commander for Sunyani
Collection made the appeal at a press soiree organized by
the service at Fiapre in Sunyani at the weekend.
He said CEPS as the highest state revenue collector needed
the support and co-operation of all to enable it to achieve
its revenue targets.
The acting commander mentioned in particular the media to
help identify corrupt practices by importers and affirmed
that the identities of informants would be secured and would
be promptly rewarded.
He said the service had introduced new methods to help it
operate effectively and had also adopted new internal
controls aimed at smoking out fraudulent officers.
The sector commander said the new measures were aimed at
also serving the public better and gave the assurance of the
Service's commitment to checking corrupt practices among its
officials.
"Customs officers by law can also be arrested just like
police officers for professional misconduct", he said and
advised the officers to avoid practices that would land them
in trouble and rather work hard.
Mr Apetor expressed his appreciation for the cordial support
from the other security agencies and hoped that the bond of
relationship would be sustained for the realization of
organizational objectives and accelerated national growth.
He said the Sunyani branch has collected 2.3 billion cedis
out of its target of 2.6 billion cedis so far this year, and
expressed the hope that it would be met.
On problems facing the Service, the sector commander
complained about the porous nature of the country's borders,
which he said gave smugglers the leeway in their nefarious
activities.
"The porous borders give us a headache and it has not been
easy to patrol and check especially the nocturnal activities
of these economic saboteurs", he said, and called on
communities along the borders to co-operate and assist the
customs officials in their duties.
GNA
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