CEPS to upgrade computerised system

THE Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) is to upgrade its integrated computerised system for the management of customs declarations and related activities as a part of a comprehensive plan to widen the tax net.
As a result, the system, known as the Ghana Customs Management System (GCMS), will be transformed into a web-based system to enhance the operations of the service at all entry points.
The Commissioner of CEPS, Mr Emmanuel N. Doku, who announced this at the annual awards and dinner night for staff of the service on the theme, “Enhancing revenue mobilisation — The way forward”, said the move formed part of a plan by the service to increase revenue generation for 2009 to support the government’s programmes.
“CEPS will continue to conduct a regulatory and administrative review of integrated systems that speak to each other across tax types and different databases by implementing its modernisation programme in order to improve its internal operational efficiency and reduce compliance costs borne by taxpayers,” he said.
Mr Doku recognised the need for staff motivation, which he said provided a challenging and supportive environment, as well as personal development, for staff.
“Management will implement new initiatives, such as giving priority to staff welfare and career development,” he said, and explained that that would enhance staff effectiveness, satisfaction and career opportunities.
“We will strive to improve the work environment by providing computers and professional skills for all officers and improve client satisfaction,” he said.
Mr Doku said as a way of enhancing motivation and impacting cultural change as an efficient way of achieving technically competent, professional and courteous officers, management would review the terms and conditions of service of staff and ensure competency through training and career path development.
“In addition, we will update and produce service codes of instruction, document all our procedures, upgrade our security equipment, review the service corporate plan and enforce our dress code,” he stated.
“The service will also continue to implement its modernisation programme in order to improve our internal operational efficiency and reduce compliance costs borne by our taxpayers and our overall cost of collection,” he said.
On the service’s revenue collection performance for 2008, he said it exceeded its revenue target of GH¢1,916.03 million to a total of GH¢1,930.03 million.
He said the exceeded value of GH¢13.63 million represented a positive deviation of 0.71 per cent.
The Head of the Public Affairs Unit at SSNIT, Reverend K. Osei Bimpong, said it was essential for organisations to recognise the efforts of their employees, as every organisation desired to achieve greater heights.
“One of the singular means of realising this is constantly identifying persons who contribute significantly to the success of the organisation,” he added.
He advised revenue agencies to develop partnerships with the public who had to pay taxes, as well as duties, and also build strong confidence among the people.
He said as a nation, “we should be fully informed and educated to appreciate that without revenue from the citizens the government cannot do much to meet our expectations”.
He recommended that CEPS pay attention to its pre-retirement training programmes to adequately prepare employees to settle peacefully after long years of work.
Awards were given to dedicated and hardworking staff and the various collections for 2008.
The awards included the commissioner’s special award, which went to Mr Paul Achaab, an instructor at the CEPS Academy; the best collection award, which went to the Kotoka International Airport, with the most improved collection award going to the staff of the IT Unit at the CEPS Headquarters.