Customs officials urged to improve revenue collection

Mr Cassiell Ato Forson, Deputy Minister of Finance, has urged the Customs Division of Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) to double its efforts in national revenue collection.

He said revenue collected by the GRA forms about 40 per cent of total tax revenue and if such a significant amount is not netted it would have a negative impact on government’s overall expenditure for the year.

Mr Forson gave the advised when he toured the Customs Divisions office at the Tema Harbour.

From January to June 2013, customs revenue collection amounted to GHȼ2,491.80 compared to GHȼ2,243.97 for the same period in 2012.

Mr Forson the Ministry recently introduced a one per cent and two per cent surcharge which is supposed to raise GHȼ208 million for the rest of the year, and GHȼ416 million for 2014.

He urged the customs officials to make efforts to improve revenue collection so as to make up for the loss in income.

Source: GNA