GRA mobilizes GH¢85 million to revive domestic operations

The monitoring team of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has mobilized over GH¢85 Million in domestic revenue within the first five months of operation.

The monies were mobilized by four teams, put in place to undertake risk based and intelligence driven operations across the country between October 2022 and February 2023.

The teams comprise the Tema, Eastern frontier based at Dabala, Western Frontier based in Kumasi and the Vehicle Tax Force, which impounded some goods whose duty haven’t been paid, amongst all others.

The Western Frontier Team recovered a total of ¢1,466,797.57 while the Vehicle Taskforce (nationwide) intercepted and detained 193 unaccustomed vehicles in the last quarter of 2022 and 80 vehicles between January and February 2023.

In the course of their work, they also impounded some unaccustomed goods and narcotic substances.

During a media briefing, Commissioner of Customs at the GRA, Alhaji Seidu Iddrisu Iddisah, stressed that the recoveries will go a long way to boost revenue generation in the country.

“As you know, Customs is supposed to be at all the entry points to ensure that goods that come into the country meet the security and health needs of the people; and the country has laws to deal with the importation of items as well as the payment of right duties to the state which is used as an economic tool.

“Duties are not just collected; it’s also used as an economic tool. Although people are not allowed to pass the unapproved routes, people use goods to pass there. Others pass the main routes and they are able sometimes to dodge some of the enforcement measures we have laid. We have layers of enforcement. So one of the layers we established is monitoring teams, that operate at certain strategic places” Alhaji Seidu Iddisah said.

According to the statistics of the tax force, a total collection of more than ¢85 million was collected between October and February; that is the direct one they have collected, Alhaji Iddisah explained.

“It has been very successful. In fact, if I tell you that since the set up towards the end of last year, apart from collecting a whole lot of revenue, their presence also made sure to let people know that even if you escape from the port, you will still be caught. So they have deterrence rule as well as a rule that makes them collect money.

“…Apart from that, there have been arrears for goods, which we have ceased because they didn’t meet the standard and laws of the country. Some include weapons, some include drugs that do not meet the standard that the country has given. But the direct revenue from that period alone is over GH¢85 Million that we collected from their activities.”

The GRA Customs Commissioner, subsequently urged the public to provide evidence of complaints of harassment by the monitoring team.

“We have always encouraged people to come out with evidence of our team members harassing individuals or any form of corruption so that we can investigate and deal with the officers involved. We have code of ethics and conducts. When it is breached, the necessary sanctions are applied accordingly.”