Tema, Oct. 25, GNA - Mr Emmanuel Doku, Commissioner Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS), on Wednesday cautioned officers at the Tema Collection to stop extorting money from the business community in order not to compromise their role as security officers.

He also reminded them to perform their duties with professionalism and utmost courtesy, as stipulated in the Service's code of conduct. Mr Doku, who gave the warning at a CEPS's durbar at the Tema Harbour, said the warning was necessitated following reports the Presidency, the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning and CEPS Management had received from the public accusing the Officers for allegedly demanding items from travellers and extorting money from the business community.

Mr Doku said the reports also indicated that some Officers were employing the services of clearing agents to demand favours on their behalf.

He said it was dangerous for personnel to demand such favours because it compromised their role as security officers. The Commissioner warned that any personnel caught or reported to have committed any of such offences would be ruthlessly dealt with. He said personnel should be circumspect in the handling of importers, especially during examination of their cargo; and advised that officers wore their nametags and uniforms when on duty for easy identification. "As we approach Christmas, let us hear good and favourable comments from the business community and the public", he said.

Mr Doku, however, commended the Tema Officers for contributing immensely towards the attainment of the targets set for the Service for this year.

He said Tema Collection had as at September collected over seven trillion cedis as against a target of eight trillion, representing 77.01 per cent of total national target.

All together, CEPS has collected a national total of over nine trillion out of the national target of 10 trillion.

But Commissioner Doku said that measures that had been instituted by the Management would make up for the shortfall in revenue, expressing optimism that the Service would meet its target by December. Mr Africanus Owusu Ansah, Deputy Commissioner of Preventive, told the personnel that such reports did not augur well for the image of the Service and advised them to lift the image of CEPS.