Ghana Revenue Authority inaugurates refurbished Accra Collection Office

Accra, Feb. 5, GNA - The refurbished Accra Collection office of the Ghana Revenue Authority Customs Division has been inaugurated with an impressive ceremony at James Town in Accra.

The refurbished facilities were funded by the Ghana Community Network Service Limited, (GCNet), an electronic solutions service provider.

Mr Gabriel Katamani, Commissioner Support Services Division, said the refurbishment is an important one and expressed the hope that it would motivate staff to double their collection.

He expressed gratitude to GCNet for recognizing the importance of the Jamestown Collection office, adding that efforts are underway to fence the office and build and embarkment to protect it from the sea.

Mr Kuudamnuru John Vianney, Commissioner of Customs, lauded the collaboration between GCNet and the Ghana Revenue Authority, especially in the effort to create a congenial working environment through the provision of equipment and furniture and urged the management of GCNet to look at other collections.

He tasked the officers to work hard to enhance the performance of the Accra Collection, adding that the Service would not permit any infractions.

Mr Emmanuel Darko, Deputy General Manager, the inauguration of the refurbished facilities at the James town customs collection marked another milestone in the partnership between GCNet and the GRA in the last 15 years.

He said within this period GCNet has undertaken some refurbishment work at various GRA sites, including the re-roofing of the Aflao and Elubo stations, provided air-conditioning, security grilles, among others.

Mr Darko said the refurbishment process at James Town coincided with the deployment of an Enhanced Warehousing Module, within the Ghana Customs Management System, which GCNet had developed in collaboration of GRA.

'We wish to note that in doing this, we acknowledge the fact that James Town is no mean a collection,' he said.

Madam Christina Akoto-Bamfo, Sector Commander Accra Collection, speaking at the commissioning, said the Accra Collection Office was commissioned in 1926.

She said with the commissioning of the Tema Harbour in 1962 all import activities were directed from the James Town Port to the Tema Harbour and the James Town Office was designated as the customs office responsible for excise activities and also for the registration of all sales tax.

Currently, the Accra Collection can boast of a staff strength of 187 and controls 215 bonded warehouses, 386 manufacturers and 55 free zones companies in the Greater Accra Region, and parts of the Eastern and Central Regions as well as the General Post Office and the Accra North Post Office. GNA