Story: Timothy Gobah & Della Russel Ocloo, Tema
PRESIDNET J.E.A. Mills has expressed disgust and revulsion at the profligate lives of customs officers, who after a few years of being appointed, construct huge mansions and buy posh cars whereas others in various public sector institutions wallow in poverty.
He said, the profligate attitude would not be tolerated in any such organisation and pledged to support all steps to sanitize the system.
President Mills was addressing Customs officials against the backdrop of a documentary, “Enemies of the Nation, The Dark Secrets of Tema Harbour”, filed by an investigate journalist, Mr Anas Aremeyaw Anas, when he paid an unannounced working visit to the Tema Port yesterday.
In an uncharacteristic angry mood, the President expressed worry that operation within the port community were not transparent, thus contributing to deprive the generality of Ghanaians of huge resources needed to transform their lives.
He said, if he had his own way, he would transfer or sack officials at the various ports and suggested to the Commissioner of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) to compel those the division employed to declare their assets upon employment and do so from time to time.
“If it means transferring everybody, I will do so; if it means dismissing everybody found culpable, I’ll do so,” the President warned.
The Tema Habour, the biggest revenue collection center, has over the years come under a barrage of alleged acts of bribery and corruption, with CEPS officials said to have colluded with agents and institutions to defraud the state.
The documentary aired on Television stations across the country and published in the Crusading Guide newspaper showed officials of CEPS, Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), National Security, Destination Inspection Companies (DICs), amongst others as well as agents colluding with each other in unpatriotic activities to deny the nation millions of cedis in revenue. The President advised the Customs Commissioner to ensure that, anybody who went to the port the name of the presidency was arrested.
He also expressed regret at the posture of the judiciary regarding the cocoa smuggling video of which the suspects standing trail for aiding smugglers to cart out the cocoa to neighboring Cote D’ Ivoire were discharged for lack of prosecution.
The President pointed out that, monies belonging to the nation found its way into the pockets of self-seeking individuals who consider their interest paramount to that of the nation.
He noted that, surveys conducted on the country on investment opportunities places Ghana in the lower league although the country has obtained a self acclaimed status of being a gateway to the rest of Africa whereas corruption remains tops.
President Mills warned that, he would allow the laws take its cause towards ensuring sanity prevails across board.
“Look at the number of people who can hardly makes ends meet, afford education and access medical care due to the unavailability of resource at their disposal although they have the rights to do so,” he lamented.
He gave his full backing to decisions being implemented by the Commissioner of Customs Division of the GRA, Major Carl Modey to dismiss officers found to have compromised their positions. He also called for in-depth investigations into the operations of GCNET to help sanitize matters.
Later in an interaction with the agents, President Mills charged them to desist from the payment of enticement fees to aid officials in carrying out their legitimate duties.
President Mills was accompanied by Finance Minister, Dr Kwabena Duffour, Director General of the GPHA, Mr Nestor Percy Galley and other government officials.
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