Accra, Oct. 6, GNA - As the Yuletide approaches, personnel of the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) have been advised to eschew negative work practices to enhance the reputation of the institution.

They should be punctual at work to attend to importers, exporters and the business community to enable them to clear their goods from the ports and at their stations.

Mr Emmanuel Doku, Commissioner of CEPS, gave the advice at separate functions when he interacted with staff at the Headquarters, Tema, Airport and Jamestown collection points during the week. The durbars were to encourage CEPS officers to focus on the Service's core functions of collecting revenue and ensuring security. The Minister of National Security, Mr Francis Poku and top management of CEPS accompanied the Commissioner. Mr. Doku expressed satisfaction with the current state of enhanced security co-operation between CEPS and other national security institutions.

He informed officers that management had adopted some best practices from other World Customs Administrations, notably South Africa, the United Kingdom, New Zealand and United States. CEPS, Mr. Doku said, would copy a bold notice posted at the Johannesburg Airport in South Africa that read; "It is a criminal offence to bribe a customs officer and it is criminal to accept bribe from any person", because that warning had worked well in curbing instances of bribery.

The Commissioner reaffirmed management's resolve to rigorously pursue current reforms aimed at modernising the Service until all processes were automated and modernised to minimise human intervention, strengthen monitoring and enhance transparency. Mr Poku, who acknowledged the contribution of CEPS to the national economy and security, advised management to develop new policies and structures to meet challenges associated with the job. He proposed that vehicles entering the country without manifest should be confiscated outright and appealed to CEPS management to compile a comprehensive list of freight forwarders and agents to enable his outfit to smoke out fake agents.

Mr Poku suggested that incentive packages should be worked out for officers to motivate them to stem the negative image of the Service. 06 Oct. 07