Abono-Ashanti, March 11, GNA - The Ashanti Region Office of Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) has targeted 172 billion cedis in revenue mobilisation this year.

Last year it collected 118 billion cedis in revenue. Mr Kow Amissah-Koomson, Assistant Commissioner of CEPS in-charge of Ashanti Region announced this at the end of the 11th Annual Endurance Walk organised by the Senior Staff Association of CEPS at Abono in the Bosomtwe-Atwima-Kwanwoma District at the weekend.

The 12-Kilometre Walk which began from Abrankese through Kuntanase to Abono under the theme "Walk for Life beyond 50" formed part of activities to mark the Golden Jubilee celebrations of Ghana's Independence.

He said CEPS had established an intelligence unit and a Task Force to assist in revenue mobilisation.

Mr Amissah-Koomson appealed to the public to provide information on tax evaders and smugglers to enable them nib their activities in the bud. Mr Bright Addai-Munumkum, Bosomtwe-Atwima-Kwanwoma District Chief Executive said the economy had over the years depended on revenue mobilised by CEPS.

He commended personnel of CEPS for their hard work and dedication to duty and assured them that Government would provide the needed logistic support for them to improve on their performance in revenue mobilisation.

Mr Junior Appiah-Warden, National Chairman of the Senior Staff Association said the endurance Walk was to improve their health status and enable them perform better.

He commended the personnel and other participants for their performance and advised them to keep them up.

In the men's division, Nii Armah Aryetey, 32, Deputy Superintendent of Prisons in Kumasi came first followed by Mr Isaac Adjei, 33, Collector of CEPS at Elubo and Mr Augustine Adaga, 45, an Assistant Collector in Accra.

In the women's division, Miss Rugbe Kitcher, 45, Assistant Collector in Accra took the first position, followed by Mrs Rosemary Parker, 57, Senior Collector also in Accra and Miss Maggie Dagbedo, a Collector in Kumasi.

The participants who excelled in the competition were presented with certificates and prizes.