The newly confirmed Commissioner of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Mr. Aaron Kanor, has embarked on a working visit to the Oti Region to assess operational challenges confronting officers at frontline border posts and boost their morale.
The visit is also intended to give the Commissioner first-hand insight into the working conditions and realities of officers stationed at some of the country’s most remote duty posts.
Speaking in an interview with the Chronicle Newspaper, as cited by BestNewsGH.com, Mr. Kanor stressed that the visit was not ceremonial but aimed at understanding the practical challenges officers face in the discharge of their duties.
“I don’t want to be sitting in Accra to receive reports. I want to see for myself what the men and officers go through and motivate them,” he said.
Mr. Kanor was accompanied by his two Deputy Commissioners: Mrs. Theresah Potaki, Deputy Commissioner in charge of Operations, and Mrs. Birago Owusu-Ansah, Deputy Commissioner in charge of Suspense Regime.
The delegation visited several Customs checkpoints across the Oti Region, including Menusi, Tindjase, Poase Cement and Ahamanso. The tour covered both established stations and remote operational locations where officers reportedly work under challenging conditions.
As part of the visit, the Commissioner and his delegation also paid a courtesy call on the Oti Regional Minister, Mr. Kwadwo Gyapong, in Dambai, the regional capital. They also engaged with representatives of the various security agencies in the region.
In what was described as a significant aspect of the tour, Mr. Kanor and his team crossed the Ghana-Togo border to engage their counterparts in neighbouring Togo.
The cross-border engagement was aimed at strengthening cooperation between the two countries in border security, revenue mobilisation and the fight against smuggling and other transnational crimes along the Oti corridor.
Discussions reportedly centred on enhancing border security, tackling smuggling, preventing revenue leakages, improving intelligence and information sharing, and facilitating legitimate cross-border trade.
The engagement underscores the importance of bilateral cooperation in addressing security and revenue-related challenges along the Ghana-Togo border.
The visit forms part of the Customs Division’s commitment to strengthening operational efficiency, improving frontline service delivery and safeguarding Ghana’s economic interests.
Addressing officers during the tour, Mr. Kanor urged them to uphold discipline, professionalism and dedication in the performance of their duties, while remaining committed to achieving the country’s revenue mobilisation targets.
He further assured the officers that their welfare and working conditions would remain key priorities under his administration.
Source: BestNewsGH.com
