Kpetoe, Jan. 22, GNA - Mr Ernest Frimpong-Nuamah, Commandant of the Customs Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) Academy at Kpetoe has called for urgent improvement, expansion and upgrading of facilities at the Academy to the level befitting its status.

He said the present state of facilities and infrastructure at the Academy constitute an apology of a National Academy for training both senior and junior personnel of the service.

"I humbly appeal to the top management of the service, the governing board and all who have a stake in the service to take a deep, critical and objective look at the Academy without delay", Mr Frimpong-Nuamah entreated.

He was addressing an end-of- year party for the staff, their families and students of the Academy last Friday night.

Mr Frimpong-Nuamah expressed concern about activities of encroachers on the Academy's 342- acre land and appealed to the Chiefs and elders of Kpetoe to assist in stopping the practice.

He impressed on the Chiefs and people of the area to regard the Academy as their own because the benefits which would continue to accrue to the community by the Academy's presence there are immeasurable.

Nene Nuer Keteku III, Konor of Agortime recalled the early beginnings of the Academy in 1975 as a Border Guard revenue centre and lamented that there has been no appreciable improvement in its physical status, especially as a potential sub-regional Customs Academy.

Regarding encroachment on the land, Nene Keteku gave the assurance that that the practice would not be allowed to persist given the immense benefits being derived by the community from the Academy and its contribution to enhancing the community's image.

Prizes were awarded to some members of staff who distinguished themselves last year.