Customs Boss Assures Ghanaians

A Custom Officer speaking with pressmen during a tour of the port

The Tema Commander of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has assured the general public that his outfit is committed to providing efficient, fair, transparent and improved services to clients.

Yissif Adam Ibrahim gave the assurance while addressing members of the Tema Chapter of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) at a day's seminar at the Ghana Ports and Harbour Authority (GPHA) long room in Tema.

According to him, despite public criticism and complaints against CEPS, officers would continue to work tirelessly to win the confidence and trust of customers.

Mr. Ibrahim, who explained the process of clearing goods, told the media personnel that an applicant, through a clearing agent, must complete an assessment form with a Bill of Lading after which the Division would make an assessment base on the information provided.

After the documents have gone through the custom declaration, applicant would be made to pay duty on the goods at a bank, before vetting of the declaration by Customs Compliance Officer selected randomly by the Ghana Community Network (GCNet), a new web base that provides information on air and sea customs operational manifest that foster trade development and facilitation.

He added that when there is no discrepancy, the examination officer will enter the report in the GCNet and then release the document which will go through preventive check.

Giving an overview of the GCNet, Mr. Ibrahim noted that the system has been designed to enable other stations to gather relevant information on consignments, which arrive at the Port, prior to examination.

He said the GCNet helps to transmit information electronically and automatically by making it possible for customs officials to secure accurate and reliable information on the overdue bonds.

Dominic Hlordzi, Vice Chairman of the Tema GJA, urged customs officers and other organizations not consider media practitioners as their enemies so as to educate the public on their operations.

He called on stakeholders to support Ghana Revenue Authority to ensure that customers pay taxes.

The seminar was aimed at educating media practitioners on the responsibilities of the Customs Division in order to report accurately to correct the erroneous perception of the public about the division.

Pressmen were taken through the basic requirements of Clearance and Valuation, among other topics.

From Vincent Kubi & Dorcas Larbi, Tema