General News of Wednesday, 9 October 2002

Source: .

Ivory Coast crisis affects revenue collection

The collection of revenue at the country's main entry point with La Cote D'Ivoire at Gonokrom in Brong Ahafo has reduced by 90 percent due to the crisis in that country.

Mr Andrew Nyarko, Base Commander of the Customs Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) at the point told Ghana News Agency (GNA) that "If the crisis is not resolved it will continue to have a negative impact on our collection of import duties".

He said there had not been any reports of influx of refugees at the border and this shows that the atmosphere was still calm.

The Base Commander, however, added that the presence of the Ghanaian military personnel at the border had maintained law and order.

Mr Emmanuel Opata, Officer-in-charge of Immigration, acknowledged that the upheaval in the neighbouring country had affected traffic and the movement of people across the border.

Until the problem is resolved, people will definitely not cross the border, he said.

The Immigration Officer, however, added that people willing to travel to or from the war-torn country might prefer passing through Sampa and Chache, near Bole in the Northern Region.