<<Print>>

The Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) improved its daily revenue collection from an average of GHC 16 million a day in May 2013 to an average of GHC 25 million a day at the end of March 2014. Effective Duty Rate (EDR), which is a measure of the efficiency with which duties are collected, also improved over the projected annual average of 6.66 per cent to 7.32 per cent as at December 2013. Mr Isaac Ofoe Apronti, the former Commissioner, Customs Division of GRA, who said this at a farewell parade in his honour and that of three others in Accra, said as at the end of March 2014, the cumulative average effective duty rate stood at 7.89 per cent compared to the projected annual average of 7.50 per cent. The parade was attended by Service Commanders, GRA Management and Staff, Family members and well-wishers. The other retired officers include Mr Anthony Minlah, Commissioner, Support Services Division of GRA and Imoro Farouk Adam, a Deputy Commissioner. Mr Wallace Akondor has now assumed the new post of Commissioner of Customs Division of GRA. Mr Apronti said: �The GHC 7,275.38 million projected volume of imports (CIF) needed to generate the 2014 first quarter import sector revenue was missed out by GHC 1,149.03 million with the actual admission of just GHC 6,126.35 million, representing 15.79 per cent deviation in expected tax base,� he added. He noted that even though the import sector revenue fell short of the 2014 first quarter target by GHC 54.16 million, representing 3.68 per cent negative deviation, sector revenue collection for the first quarter of 2014 exceeded that for the corresponding period of 2013 by GHC 337.68 million, representing a 31.26 growth. The former Commissioner stated that despite these gains, there were still incidences of non-conformance to laid down procedures, leading to revenue leakages and called for systems approach methods, rather than adhoc measures to reduce the incidences. Mr Apronti said to further improve efficiency and effectiveness, and in line with the Division�s new status as an integral part of the GRA, the Division�s operational law had been revised and the draft bill was before Parliament. The bill, he said, includes elements of best practices, as enshrined in the World Customs organization�s document of the Revised Kyoto Convention. He was grateful to his colleagues, Management and staff of the GRA for their support throughout the years. �I say you are the best and I cherish your comradeship and support all these years we have been together and since I was appointed Acting Commissioner, your commitment and contributions: the many reports and late working hours we have shared together, your ideas that illuminated our strategies, your tireless leg work to meetings and other places to ensure that our strategies are well received and implemented. �I cannot expect more on an occasion like this when I am exiting the public service after a thirty-three-year career, twenty-seven of which was spent in Customs with an additional one year as a contract officer, I cannot ask for more and so I say thank you very much,� he told his colleague. Mr Akondor said the event would go down as a milestone in the history of the division as they witnessed a passing of baton from one Customs officer to another and pledged to build a congenial working relationship with the Management and staff of the Division. He pledged to follow the good work that his predecessor left behind and also commended the staff for their hard work and urged them to continue to aspire to give good customer service to their stakeholders. The New Commissioner urged the stakeholders to be truthful and open to the Division so that together, they could thrash out their differences and forge ahead with a common goal. Mr Akondor also urged the media to be circumspect in their critiques and treat the Division with respect and truthfulness. Mr George Blankson, Commissioner General of GRA, commended the retired officers for their selfless duty to the country and urged those that would take over the mantle to learn the exemplary lives of the retired officers. He said Mr Apronti was a team player and a great motivation to all who came into contact with him. �As a Statistician with great analytical skills you brought your experience to bear on the work of revenue collection � you demonstrated unparalleled commitment to duty, integrity and passion for excellence which put Customs Division on a high pedestal,� he added. Mr Apronti was engaged in the erstwhile Customs, Excise and preventive Service in the year 1986 as a Collector and rose through the ranks to become Commissioner of Customers.