Business News of Thursday, 29 November 2007

Source: GNA

CEPS inaugurates data service centre for traders

Accra, Nov. 29, GNA - The Customs, Exercise and Preventive Service (CEPS) on Thursday inaugurated an electronic system that would enable it to acquire and manage electronic information submitted to it by traders and other stakeholders about their businesses. The computerized system would help to minimise human interference in the preparation and submissions of trade documentation and also maximise revenue for socio-economic development.

In a message read on his behalf, Mr. Emmanuel Doku, Commissioner for CEPS, said the system would help to ensure security, maintain the true and complete contents of trade documents and also retain their originality and correctness from their first source. "The intent is to secure these documents from being tempered with or altered in any unauthorised manner", he said. Mr Doku said traders and stakeholders could also use the system to check on the status of their submissions and the timely clearance of goods and services.

"In no time CEPS would be provided with additional electronic tools which would facilitate both the compliance and verification of processes and documentation."

Mr George Kweku Ofori, President of Ghana Union of Traders' Association (GUTA), thanked CEPS for the provision of the system at the Association's headquarters and called on members to make good use of it since it was free of charge. He appealed to CEPS for the provision of more service points at other centres of the Association. 29 Nov. 07