The Vice President of the Republic of Ghana, Her Excellency Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, has charged newly commissioned officer cadets of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) to uphold discipline, integrity, and professionalism in the discharge of their duties to help strengthen Ghana’s economic resilience and development.

Speaking as the Special Guest of Honour and Reviewing Officer at the graduation ceremony of Customs Officer Cadets at the GRA Academy at Kpetoe in the Agotime-Ziope District of the Volta Region on behalf of the Vice President, Mr. Alex Segbefia, the Chief of Staff to the Vice President, described the event as both a celebration of their endurance through nine months of rigorous training and the beginning of a lifelong commitment to national service.

She hailed the occasion as not only the end of rigorous nine-month paramilitary and customs training, but also the beginning of a noble journey of service to Ghana.

She commended the cadets for their endurance and praised the instructors and commanders for their role in shaping the new officers. She said “she is truly delighted to be part of this important milestone.

She urged them to not be just revenue collectors but to be the guardians of national interest, facilitators of legitimate trade, and protectors of public safety.
She emphasized the urgent need to build a resilient economy from within. She outlined the government’s bold plans to reform and strengthen the country’s revenue mobilization systems.

Your interactions with traders and travelers shape perceptions of our nation. Every cedi properly assessed and collected helps build schools, supply hospitals, and invest in infrastructure.”

In a speech focused heavily on the nation’s economic future, Opoku-Agyemang underscored the urgent need to strengthen domestic revenue mobilization amid declining international financing options.

She announced a series of measures the government is undertaking to enhance revenue collection and reduce reliance on external funding.

These include:

A review of the tax exemption regime to promote transparency and job creation.

Rationalization of port fees to boost trade competitiveness.

Restructuring of the GRA to improve compliance and administration.

Enactment of a Natural Resources Revenue Management Act to better harness earnings from mineral wealth.

Review of the Petroleum Revenue Management Act to optimize oil revenue.

Harmonization of tax regimes for equity and efficiency.

Opoku-Agyemang acknowledged that the Customs Division remains understaffed, with only 2,635 officers currently serving against an established need of 5,329.

She expressed joy at the boost the new cadets bring to the workforce and assured the government’s commitment to improving staff conditions and providing necessary resources to enhance operational efficiency.

She urged the cadets to remain vigilant against smuggling and corruption, warning of the far-reaching effects of unethical behavior.

Highlighting the comprehensive training received by the officer cadets, including customs procedures, leadership, weapon handling, and the use of Ghana’s Integrated Customs Management System, the Vice President expressed hope that the graduating class would be the generation to transform the Customs Division into a model of excellence across the continent.

She congratulated the best-performing cadets, commending their exceptional dedication, and officially declared the officers as graduates of the Customs Division.

“May your service bring honour to yourselves, pride to the Ghana Revenue Authority, and prosperity to Ghana,” she concluded.

Peacefmonline.com