Samuel Owusu, the Upper East Sector Commander and Chief Revenue Officer, has disclosed that the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) in the Upper East Region (UER), has so far, raked in GH₵14 million as against its set target of GH₵19.2 million for the year, 2021.
The Sector Commander made this known in Bolgatanga after the presentation of personal protective equipment (PPE). He indicated that looking at the efforts put in by the Customs Division in the region, there is possibility of meeting the revenue target set for 2021.
According to the Chief Revenue Officer, for the first 10 months of 2021, the Customs Division in the region collected GH₵14 million, as against GH₵12.2 million collected in 2020 in same period.
Technology Aiding Revenue Mobilization
Mr Owusu attributed the success story to the Integrated Communication Operations Management Systems (ICOMS), an electronic tool that his outfit deployed at stations under the Bolgatanga collection points.
Mr Owusu explained that with the slow pace of the previous technologies – Ghana Community Network Services (GcNet) and the Global Compact Network Singapore (GCNS), coupled with the devastating effects of the COVID-19, there was the need for stringent measures to be put in place to improve performance.
He asserted that the ICOMS was not only cost-effective, but also helps in resolving the bottlenecks of his outfit, which used to rely on GcNet and GCNS, but not as efficient as compared to the recent innovation.
The Chief Revenue Officer noted that the introduction of the ICOMS further contributed to the improvement of the automation systems, leading to the reduction in the cost of doing business, improved organisation’s performance, and improved revenue collection.
“The ICOMS has come to replace the GcNet and the GCNS, because it is superior and it has led to the speeding up of processes and procedures in the clearance of goods at the ports and the borders. it has also reduced the cost of doing business. With the ICOMS, you are able to initiate the process of clearance before the goods come and it prevents other costs like rent.”
Samuel Owusu
Mr Owusu stated that his outfit would continue to leverage on advanced technological mechanisms to increase revenue mobilisation in order to meet the GH₵19.2 million revenue target for the year.
Mr Owusu averred that the borders are the heartbeat of revenue mobilisation for the country, nonetheless he pointed out that the country had to take hard decisions to close the borders, as a result of the upsurge in the COVID-19 pandemic.
Distribution of PPEs
Mr Owusu noted that the personal protective equipment (PPE) provided by the Customs Division is expected to help the less privileged people to protect themselves. The items included: 40 Veronica buckets, 40 gallons of liquid soap and 40 packs of tissues. As a result, some deprived basic schools in GRA operational areas in the region also benefited.
Miss Georgina Bugase, the Headteacher of the Paga R/C Primary School in the Kassena-Nankana West District of the region, on behalf of the beneficiary schools paid tribute to the Customs Division for the gesture and assured that the items would be put into good use.
