CALL ON CEPS OFFICERS TO BE VIGILANT ... (Page 30)

Story: Samuel Duodu, Sunyani

THE acting Brong Ahafo Regional Sector Commander of the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS), Mr Alorchie Apetor, has urged personnel of the service to be vigilant and professional in the conduct of their duties at the various frontiers and checkpoints, since soccer fans from the sub-region will pass through the region to Kumasi and Tamale, which are host cities for the Ghana 2008 tournament.
He noted that CEPS officials stationed at the various entry points of the country were the first ports of call, as well as 'ambassadors' to all visitors, and, therefore, they must be professional in the discharge of their duties to leave a lasting impression on the minds of visitors, since their inaction or actions would damage the reputation of the country.
Mr Apetor, who is a Chief Collector, made the call at the regional sector command end-of-year dinner and awards night held in Sunyani over the weekend.
He stated that although Brong Ahafo was not playing host to Ghana 2008, there was the likelihood of football fans passing through the region to Kumasi and Tamale and, therefore, there was the need for CEPS officials to be professional in the conduct of their duties.
The acting sector commander disclosed that the command exceeded its revenue target when it collected GH¢2,696,232.37, as against the GH¢2,360,00 set for last year, representing an increase of 14.29 per cent.
He stated that it was the first time in two years that the Sunyani collection point had exceeded its targeted for the year, in spite of the political crisis in Cote d’Ivoire.
Mr Ignatius Baffour Awuah, the Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, also congratulated officials of the Sunyani collection point on exceeding the target for last year and urged them not to rest on their laurels.
He noted that despite the hard conditions under which CEPS officials stationed at the frontier stations in the region worked, they still found time to assist the communities where the border posts were located by helping the people to repair their access roads.
Nana Bosoma Asor Nkrawire II, the Omanhene of the Sunyani Traditional Area, who chaired the function, was full of praise for the officials of the command and urged them to map out more effective strategies to enable them to exceed the target set for this year.
Some officials of the command were rewarded for their hard work and dedication to duty.