Finance Minister plans Port visits to combat corruption and boost revenue

Finance Minister Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam has announced plans to personally visit various ports across Ghana in a bid to combat pervasive corruption.

The move follows a slew of reports detailing corrupt practices among port officials, prompting Dr. Adam to take the decisive action.

Expressing concern over the detrimental impact of corruption on revenue generation and critical national projects, Dr. Adam underscored the urgent need to address the issue.

He highlighted the complicity of clearing agents, shipping companies, and customs officials in revenue losses, stressing the imperative of rectifying these systemic flaws.

“Commissioner-General, as you may be aware, the perception of corruption in the ports or trade and entry remains very high. I have seen reports that tend to confirm some of these perceptions. And I know you all have received similar reports. We continue to lose revenue through the actions and inactions of clearing agents, shipping companies, and some of our own customs officials.”

“I personally intend to visit the ports, together with some of your officers to engage and assess for myself some of the issues at first-hand,” he said.

Acknowledging the gravity of the situation, Dr. Adam reaffirmed his unwavering support for the Ghana Revenue Authority and underscored the government’s commitment to combating corruption.

He reiterated his willingness to prioritize revenue enhancement initiatives and encouraged proactive engagement with his ministry to address challenges effectively.

“We need you to continue to instill discipline and minimise revenue leakages through misdescriptions, misclassification, over and under-invoicing. I assure you and your team of my strong support”.

“We are here to serve a country and that is our utmost priority. If it has to do with increasing revenue, do not hesitate to reach out to me or my team at the Ministry”, he added.

Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam’s proactive stance signals a concerted effort to root out corruption and bolster revenue generation efforts in Ghana’s port sector, underscoring the government’s commitment to fostering transparency and accountability in governance.

Source:norvanreports