Do away with ‘get-rich-quick’ mentality-GRA staff told

Staff of Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) with a get-rich-quick mentality have been asked to have a change of heart, since the authority will not hesitate to terminate their appointment and have them arrested and prosecuted if they fall foul of the law.

According to the acting Commissioner-General of the authority, Mr Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah, all members of staff must know the content of the authority’s code of conduct because “we will strictly enforce the rules and regulations and it includes the yearly declaration of assets in line with the national constitution.”

He was speaking at the passing-out parade of senior and junior cadets of Customs at the GRA Academy at Kpetoe in the Agotime-Ziope District in the Volta Region over the weekend.

The graduands comprised 51 senior cadets and 171 junior cadets and were taken through seven and 10 months intensive training respectively.

Mr Owusu-Amoah urged the graduands to eschew the mindset of making fast money and rather help to build a nation of enviable standards.

Fairness

The acting GRA Commissioner-General said officials of the service must ensure fairness in their dealings with key stakeholders, especially traders, importers and taxpayers, and handle their concerns with more civility.

‘From the beginning of next year, we will introduce a customer satisfaction survey and every officer will be measured by that,” he said.

He said management would continue to monitor staff performance at the various collection points and stations and will reward excellent performance and sanction abhorrent behaviour.

He urged the public to be responsible taxpayers and help the authority to achieve its targets, adding that, ‘The era of tax evasion is in the past. All debtors must get ready to pay.’

Commendation

The Volta Regional Minister, Dr Archibald Yao Letsa, commended the commandant of the academy and course instructors for inculcating discipline and professionalism in the cadets.

He encouraged the graduands to put their expertise on board and help the government to achieve its vision of Ghana beyond aid.

Mr Daniel Aboagye and Emmanuel Tetteh took the Overall Best Cadets for the senior and the junior ranks respectively.

The passing-out ceremony was attended by some commissioners of the GRA and senior officers from other security agencies.