Retired officers of the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) on Wednesday expressed dissatisfaction at the current level of retirement packages for personnel of the service, saying it gives them "no hope of maintaining some level of future prosperity".
"This situation does not only make the average customs officer regret for the risky profession he has chosen but also makes him extremely devastated when he comes to realize that he will not have enough to live on when he retires," said Mrs. Mina Addy, President of the Retired Customs Officers Association (RECOA) at the second anniversary of the body in Accra. "Revenue collection is risky and unpopular and it is equally stressful.Yet customs officers receive pensions which do not allow them to live within Comfort zones like their counterparts elsewhere, who have the same qualification" she noted.
Mrs. Addy said the situation was further aggravated by the fact that retirement packages that junior officers received in some organisations was far higher than that received by senior CEPS officers. "This is a case that needs serious and prompt investigation and redress. Our retirement package is woefully inadequate." She appealed to the authorities to set up a committee to improve upon the pension packages to avoid retirement crisis ahead.
Mrs. Addy commended the CEPS management for honouring the agreement with RECOA to authorize the monthly deduction of GHc 1.00 from salaries of senior officers and transferring the amount into RECOA's account. She said an amount of GHc 1,287 was deposited into RECOA's account by March 31 and that the junior staff numbering about 2,000 had also promised to follow suit. Mrs. Addy encouraged serving officers to always ensure that the cords that bonded them remain strong and unbreakable, promising that RECOA would keep watch over the account and invest it judiciously to facilitate a befitting pension package in future.
Mr Emmanuel Doku, CEPS Commissioner commended RECOA for the progress made over the past two years and the commitment of members to the growth of the fledgling association. He encouraged the association to increase its membership drive and fund raising activities to ensure progress. Mr Doku said the service would play its part in subsidizing some of their activities and place at their disposal needed facilities. RECOA's membership stands at 350.
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