Tema, Jan 31, GNA - The Tema Collection Point of the Customs Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) has targeted between 800,000 billion cedis and one trillion cedis as revenue to be collected every month this year. This will, however, depend on the seasonal variations that start from the end of February onwards.

For 2006, Tema CEPS has estimated to collect 10.95 trillion cedis out of a national total revenue collection of 14.15 trillion cedis, Mr Samuel Yankyera, Assistant Commissioner (AC) of CEPS at Tema, told the it collected 8.89 trillion cedis, falling short by 1.14 trillion cedis. The high duty exemptions on various cargoes contributed to the fall short.

Mr Yankyera said to step up revenue generation, though compliance level is high, measures have been put in place to reverse the situation and staffs have been directed to put in their maximum. ''Anybody who falls below expectation would be sanctioned.'' He said the GCnet is in operation but it has not been utilized to its maximum. Therefore, plans are under way to introduce new developments into its operation to speed up processing of documents for fast clearance of goods.

The new development, dubbed "Single Window Concept," would involve the hooking of all related agencies like the Ghana Standard Board and the Food and Drugs Board as well as the ministries and departments into the system.

This would help them assess information and data on their documents without necessarily carrying bulky documents or frequenting the Customs Long Room.

Mr Yankyera expressed regret that the strike action embarked upon by the staff of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has slowed down activities in respect of commercial goods. He said CEPS could go ahead with its duties without necessarily depending on the IRS revenue because importers could settle payment of tax with the IRS after going through customs.