Accra, July 31, GNA -The Ghana Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) will on Wednesday, August 1 launch a new satellite transit tracking system to monitor transit operations in the country in line with the World Customs Organization's Framework of Standards, The system to be known as the Satellite Tracking Units, with a number of added features to facilitate the processing of transit consignments, and in concert with the ECOWAS Convention on Inter-State Transit of goods, makes Ghana the first ECOWAS member state to install such a system.

The system would be attached to all transit vehicles to electronically monitor their movement by means of Global Positioning System in order to plug all possible areas of revenue leakage. A statement issued by the CEPS on Tuesday said with the system now in place, CEPS's transit escorts would be disengaged from accompanying vehicles on their journeys.

Thus by means of electronic tracking it would be possible to determine, from the CEPS transit management centre, whether a truck had remained at any particular point over a period longer than expected, or veered completely from its approved route. The information generated by the system could also be accessed on the CEPS/GCNet websites.

This would enable transporters ascertain where their trucks and drivers are at any given time and transistors could also monitor their consignments via the system.

The statement said neighbouring customs authorities who enter into proper collaborative arrangements with CEPS could also transmit information to confirm the exit of cargoes into the country to ensure such cargoes were not diverted onto the local market. The statement said a breach of the directive constituted an offence and offenders would be dealt with under Customs Laws. 31 July 07