Aflao, Feb. 5, GNA - The Aflao Collection of the Customs Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) in 2005 exceeded its revenue target of 220 billion cedis by 41 billion cedis or 15.57 percent excess. In 2004, it exceeded its target by 7.6 per cent, Miss Yaa Kesiwaa Amponsah, Assistant Commissioner in charge, said at an annual dinner and awards night at Aflao on Saturday.

Miss Amponsah said the feat, which made Aflao the best Collection in the country, was attained in spite of the intermittent border closures that characterized the political crises in Togo in the last quarter of last year, during which business slowed down considerably. She noted that the ban on overland importation of African prints in June last year witnessed an increase in the smuggling of the product along the frontiers.

She said this situation stretched the Collection to the limits as personnel tried to counteract the activities of smugglers with inadequate resources.

Miss Amponsah said about 23,187 pieces of smuggled wax prints, valued several millions of cedis in revenue had been intercepted by Customs officers.

She called on the officers to remain vigilant, hardworking and focused.

She also appealed to the authorities to improve the transportation and communication needs of the Collection and also improve the equipment level of the Boat Squad at Sogakope to enable it check the increasing use of the lake by smugglers.

Miss Amponsah commended and awarded the Diamond Cement Company Limited (DCGL) in Aflao, which imports clinker from Togo through the frontier for maintaining its import tax obligation to the State. In a message read on his behalf, Major-General Richardson Baiden, Commissioner of CEPS, enjoined the personnel to incorporate quality in their work within the new culture of change aimed at integrating the Service into the world economy.

Mr Ben Suuri, a Chief Collector in charge of the Dabala Check Point was adjudged the best manager within the Aflao collection. 05 Feb. 06