By Wisdom JONNY-NUEKPE
A high powered delegation by the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), led by the Chief of Defense Staff (CDS), Lieutenant General Thomas Oppong-Peprah, has visited top management of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) to deepen collaborations and explore new areas of cooperation.
The visit, which was the first of its kind and described as historic, was also to take stock of existing partnerships between the two entities.
Addressing officers from the GAF and the GRA during the visit, Lieutenant General Thomas Oppong-Peprah highlighted the need for the two departments to work together more than ever to strengthen revenue mobilization.
He said the GRA plays a crucial role in ensuring national development through revenue collection, a task which is very daunting.
“From a trip to key borders in the country, I saw how the Military and the GRA Customs Division are collaborating to ensure security of Ghana’s borders and the country at large. I am here to spark discussions to build on these existing collaborations” Lieutenant General Oppong-Peprah said.
The visit, he said was also very key in enabling the Military High Command to be well-informed on current operations of the GRA and to seek new areas of collaboration.
“We know the complex nature of recent threats that are evolving and it is imperative to create these synergies to mitigate security risks on the country’s borders” the CDS added.
Commissioner General of the GRA, Madam Julie Essiam, expressed a profound gratitude to the top military hierarchy for the visit, and described it as significant and historic.
According to her, the Armed Forces has been very integral in helping the GRA to strengthen revenue collection efforts in many ways, through border patrol collaborations among others.
More importantly, Madam Essiam said the current Commissioner of Customs, Brigadier General Zibrim Ayorrogo, brought with him a keen work culture from his military background into the operations of the GRA – a skill, she admitted, has been tremendous in tax collection efforts.
“Through vigilance and commitment from the Customs Division and the Domestic Tax Revenue Division of the Authority, we were able to meet our half year target. This synergy is good for us, as we seek to achieve this year and future targets” she noted.
Areas of collaboration
During the visit, Madam Essiam disclosed that one major hurdle which continuously confront the Authority is the issue of smuggling.
She made a passionate appeal to the Military High Command to assist the Customs Division to deepen surveillance on the various borders to mitigate the threats.
Lieutenant General Oppong-Peprah assured the GRA management of the Military’s willingness to train and provide security capacity training for Customs officials to equip them in combatting the smuggling menace.
“There may be considerations on basic naval security training for the Customs Division to enable them have the capacity and knowledge on how smuggling is carried out in the marine space and even through lakes and rivers” he assured.
The CDS was accompanied by key officers with an entourage including, Chief of Staff; Major General J.P Osei Owusu, Deputy Chief of Staff (Administration); Air Vice Marshall, F.A Asante, Deputy Chief of Staff (Logistics); Rear Admiral S. Agyenim Boateng, Deputy Chief of Staff (Policy and Plans); Major General DYA Nyarko, Director General (Training); Brigadier General W Dzandu-Hedidor.
The rest were, Director General (HR); Brigadier General A Asiamah, Military Assistant to the CDS; Colonel BB Pantoah and Protocol Officer to the CDS; Lieutenant Colonel S Affanyi.
