38 Customs officers pass out after counter-terrorism training

38 officers of the Ghana Revenue Authority have passed out after receiving a three-week counter-terrorism, tactics, teamwork and confidence building training at Asutuare.

Speaking as the Guest of Honour at the closing ceremony, Deputy Commissioner of GRA, SY Seidu said the training was important because it will help the officers in combating cross border crime such as terrorism, extremism, jihadist and other emerging security threats in peace-time.

He told the officers the main objective of the authority is to collect revenue, to provide security and facilitate trade.

But was quick to add that without security, the revenue mobilisation agenda would not be achieved, hence the training was initiated to mould the officers to protect the borders against external aggression.

He said terrorism ”is real. The terrorists are around us. You are the few privileged ones [who] have been given this training to go out there and defend every Ghanaian at the borders.”

The Deputy Commissioner explained that the government has accepted the security governance initiative which requires all the security agencies to collaborate and combat and defend the borders.

He urged the officers to pass on the knowledge acquired to other officers.

Customs he noted plays an important role in the supply chain and as the institution tasked with ensuring that cross-border flow of goods, people and means of conveyance comply with International laws, it was prudent for them to be abreast with the dynamics of the time in the twenty-first century by keeping the pace with escalating transnational organised crime, terrorism, extremism, money laundering and any other emerging threats that threaten the supply chain system and the global inter-modal transport system in peacetime.

”They [smugglers] have adopted sophisticated means of smuggling. Weapons are now concealed in the cases of guitars, weapons are concealed in rice and you are the ones to ensure that that concealment is brought out,” he said.

”Let’s go out there and collect the revenue, facilitate trade and provide security. Work in cooperation and coordination with your other security agencies, ” he added.

Threats

He further explained as part of its mandate, WCO allows Customs to equip itself with the necessary tools to sufficiently improve enforcement techniques for maximum compliance for peace, safety and security has taken cognisance of the emerging threat posed to International Trade.

He said Custom Officers hold unique powers in relation to goods in global supply chain hence their unique role in helping in combating any transactional organised crime in peace time to guarantee peace, safety and security.

”He urged them to be aware that they owe it a duty to be the vanguard for peace and security first and foremost to ”yourself before the nation”.

”I wish to reiterate that we are in an era in which the same way goods and people move across the globe in real time due to advancement in technology, the same way crime and terror know no boundary, they do transcend national and international boundaries. A threat to one nation is a threat to all; a threat anywhere is a threat everywhere. No one institution holds the key to today’s multi-faceted threats. It behoves on all to collaborate in consented effort in achieving economic development in peace and safety and security.”

Enemy to the State

He cautioned the officers to be guided by their professional ethics and desist from conniving with smugglers to cheat the system.

The officers were taking through weapon training, obstacle crossing, navigation, voice procedure, map reading, identification of IEDs, cordon and search among others.

Source: Rashid Obodai Provencal||rainbowradioonline.com