GRA graduates urged to uphold tenets of profession

By Kodjo Adams, GNA
Accra, Nov. 2, GNA - Mr George Blankson, Commissioner-General of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), has called on graduates of the GRA professional course to adhere to the Authority's mission of transparency, integrity and honesty in their field of work.

He urged the graduates to acquaint themselves with the Authority's code to guide them in their interaction with taxpayers.

"I urge you to contribute positively to the emerging organisational culture of excellence, creativity and providing solutions to identified challenges" he said.

The Commissioner-General said this at the graduation ceremony of 204 GRA course trainees for the 2014/2015 Professional Course in Taxation.

The trainees graduated from the basic tax administration course for new officers of the domestic tax revenue division.

The twelve months training includes basics of Accounting, Principles of Taxation, Principles of Law, Value Added Tax, Excise Tax and Communications Service tax.

Mr Blankson urged the graduates to be good ambassadors and portray the new face of GRA as a modernized service oriented tax administration and provide services to taxpayers in collecting the needed revenue for national development.

He called on them to combine the knowledge acquired with the realities on the ground to improve revenue mobilization in the country, adding that revenue mobilization requires determination, hard work, compassion, discipline, tenacity and integrity to succeed.

Mr Blankson said the Authority is increasingly and progressively modernizing its operations through the deployment of ICT and the adoption of new procedures and processes to enhance effective service delivery.

He said management has adopted a code of ethics to guide its employers in the performance of their duties, saying it will not hesitate to apply sanctions against erring employees.

He urged them to learn from the experiences of their senior officers to become worthy replacements and commended the staff of the training department for their efforts.

Ms Essie Sekyi, Acting Head of Training and Development Department and Assistant Commissioner for Direct Tax advised the graduates to eschew laziness and cultivate a positive attitude for success.

She said the reduction of the course training from two years to one year has resulted in the reduction of subjects such as information technology, deduction rules and long term contracts.

Ms Sekyi thanked management for acquiring its own building for the training school as a long-term solution.

Mr Bless Akrobetu, the Course Prefect for the 2016/2016 Batch, commended management for the opportunity and pledged their support to the growth of the Authority.

He urged management to take the needed steps to convert the training school into a fully-fledged degree awarding institution and ensure that accommodation facilities at the hostels are expanded to take more trainees.

Mr Justice Mensah, emerged the overall best student, Mr Ernest Essieku, Mr Henry Cofie, Ms Mary Amankwah and Mr Bless Akrobetu all earned deserved positions and were awarded with a plaque for their excellent performances.

GNA