Universities told to develop programmes on tax evasion

Mr. George Blankson, Commissioner-General, Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), on Wednesday called on the country’s universities and learning institutions to develop specific programmes aimed at educating tax professionals to meet global tax needs.

He said it was high time institutions took up the mantle of training tax professionals, “We need the necessary investment in knowledge and research to make GRA the bedrock of quality and efficient tax administration.”

Mr. Blankson said this in a speech read for him at a durbar held to mark the International Customs Day at Takoradi under the theme: “Knowledge, a catalyst for Customs Excellence”.

Mr. Blankson said the service could not enhance quality and improve the capacity of staff, “If we are unable to develop and implement the right talent strategies, intensify and broaden our education and training facilities and ultimately instil a culture of learning in our staff.”

He said the World Customs Organization (WCO) under its capacity building programme had developed innovative schemes to promote continuous learning and career development under the Columbus Programme.

WCO has also entered into strategic partnership with some universities under a programme called Partnership in Customs Academic Research and Development to create International Network of Customs Universities for training personnel.

“The Customs Division Academy at Kpetoe is one of such institutions which implies that we upgrade training facilities to be competitive and become centre of excellence,” Mr Blankson said.

Mr. Blankson said meeting the demands of the current tax administration called for knowledge, skills and behaviour which could only be delivered through a more professional approach in terms self-development and career management.

Source: GNA